MDC Alliance councillors in Victoria Falls defied a
directive by MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora to reinstate the resort
town’s mayor, who was fired by the Nelson Chamisa-led party.
The councillors chose Richard Mguni to take over as mayor
from Somvelo Dlamini, who was fired last month for defying a party directive.
Dlamini was reinstated by Local Government minister July
Moyo last week following Mwonzora’s intervention.
Fellow councillors, however, ignored the move and held
elections on Thursday where they elected Mguni ahead of Patricia Mwale, who is
now the deputy mayor.
“We think interested parties will understand that
resignation is a unilateral act and everything we did was above board on the
basis of that resignation,” said a councillor.
“We proceeded in terms of section 103 of the Urban Councils
Act.
“However, politics remains politics and powerful
politicians in many instances get their way.”
Prince Dubeko Sibanda, the MDC Alliance provincial chairman
for Matabeleland North, said Dlamini was only reinstated as a councillor, not
mayor.
“The former mayor was reinstated to be councillor and not
mayor,” Sibanda said.
“Mayorship is acquired through elections by councillors.
“The duly elected mayor of Victoria Falls municipality is
Councillor Rich Mguni.
In a letter to Dlamini, Moyo said he was reinstating him as
councillor for ward nine following a letter from Mwonzora.
Moyo had in March declared the ward vacant and a
by-election was now due.
Dlamini was expelled by MDC Alliance secretary-general
Chalton Hwende through a letter dated February 24 on charges of violating party
rules and undermining protocol after he contested and won the mayoral elections
in 2018.
The party wanted him to step aside for its preferred
candidate Margaret Valley.
Dlamini took the party to the High Court contesting his
expulsion but later withdrew the lawsuit after he reached a deal with Mwonzora
and his allies that he would be reinstated.
Mwonzora had also reinstated Masvingo and Chegutu mayors
that were fired under similar circumstances. Standard
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