LOCAL Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo has
said Councillor Somveli Dlamini remains the legitimate mayor for Victoria Falls
as he can only be removed from office through a general election or a tribunal
set by Government.
Minister Moyo wrote to the municipality yesterday nullifying
an election conducted by 10 councillors which replaced Clr Dlamini with ward 5
Clr Richard Mguni last Thursday.
This puts to rest a tussle for power between Clr Dlamini
and Clr Mguni which had seen the former disowning a resignation letter he
purportedly wrote in March, as he claimed he remains the legitimate mayor for
the town.
Minister Moyo confirmed writing to the municipality
yesterday. “He was not fired from being mayor. He can only be fired or removed
in terms of the Constitution or if there is a tribunal set of which I haven’t
put any. What it means is that since he has been reinstated, he returns to the office
of the Mayor,” said Minister Moyo.
The letter the Minister wrote reads in part: “It’s been
brought to my attention that on May 7, 2020 at a meeting of Victoria Falls
Municipality an election was held for the position of mayor of the town of
Victoria Falls. Please note that in terms of Section 48 and 103 of the Urban
Councils Act, a mayor is elected to the office after a general election and
holds office until an election or until a successor is appointed. The
Constitution in Section 278 provides for the due processes for the removal of a
mayor or councillor and following my evenly referenced letter dated 5 May 2020,
Clr Somveli Dlamini was reinstated as a councillor. As such, there is no
provision for an election of a new mayor as Clr Dlamini regains his post until
the end of his term of office.
“In terms of Section 316, I hereby order that the election
of a new mayor of Victoria Falls is nullified and Clr Dlamini continues in the
office of mayor.”
Minister Moyo reinstated Clr Dlamini as a councillor for
Ward 9 last Thursday, on the basis of a letter written to him by Mr Douglas
Mwonzora, who is secretary general of the MDC-T, as per the recent Supreme
Court ruling which recognised Dr Thokozani Khupe as the party leader.
The local authority’s other 10 councillors had quickly
replaced him with Clr Mguni in the mayor’s office saying he comes back as an
ordinary councillor because he resigned.
Clr Dlamini, who had been in the political doldrums since
February 24 when the MDC-Alliance leadership expelled him on allegations of
violating party rules and disrespecting protocol, said he never resigned.
He dismissed last week’s election as null and void, saying
the meeting was bogus.
Clr Dlamini has accused the MDC-Alliance of forcing him to
sign the alleged resignation letter, an assertion dismissed by the party’s
secretary Mr Charlton Hwende. The 10 councillors yesterday convened an urgent
closed-door meeting before Minister Moyo’s letter to the council, where they
resolved to rally behind Clr Mguni.
Clr Dlamini said he was not invited and only got to know
about the meeting when he visited the municipal offices when the meeting was
underway.
Ward 1 Clr Margaret Varley, who is MDC-Alliance chief whip
in council, called the meeting.
The nullification of Clr Mguni’s election means that he
leaves before being sworn in and only five days after his election.
Clr Mguni said he had nothing against Clr Dlamini. Town
Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said the municipality will abide by Government directive. Chronicle
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