LOCAL Government, Public Works and National Housing minister Ignatius Chombo has reserved resolutions made by Gweru councillors seeking to discipline unruly workers.
By Stephen Chadenga
The resolutions were made during a special council meeting held on May 18. The latest move has led councillors councillors to accuse Chombo of gross interference.
Councillors had resolved to take disciplinary action against the workers’ committee for storming a meeting of councillors in the Town House chamber. The councillors had further resolved to send workers on early retirement while also reducing working hours to cut expenditure.
But in a letter dated May 21, and addressed to Gweru mayor Hamutendi Kombayi, Chombo reversed the resolutions saying they were not in the best interest of the local authority.
“This letter serves to advise that I have in terms of section 314 (1) of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) rescinded all decisions made during the special council meeting held on 18 May 2015,” part of the letter read.
“I have noticed that these resolutions are not in the interest of the inhabitants of Gweru City, neither are they in the national or public interest.”
Councillors raised concern over Chombo’s interference at a full council meeting last week arguing the minister was unnecessarily targeting them.
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Ward 14 councillor Ernest Guduza said there was need to engage Chombo so that the names of the councillors were not tainted.
“At the end it would appear as if councillors are the culprits in failing to run the affairs of Gweru Municipality and the minister has to be engaged to clear the name of councillors,” Guduza said.
Last month, Chombo suspended three MDC-T councillors Albert Chirau (ward 11), Kenneth Sithole (ward 4) and Moses Marecha (ward 5) on allegations of abuse of office and council property.
MDC-T Midlands South provincial spokesperson Munyaradzi Mutandavari described the move as politically motivated and a ploy by Zanu PF to target MDC-T-dominated councils.
