TEMPERS flared during a Bulawayo City Council meeting over a proposal not to change committee members, with some councillors claiming the move was designed to perpetuate corrupt activities. CHIEF REPORTER
The MDC-T-led council was divided over the change of committees as mandated by the Urban Councils’ Act.
According to a council report, committee members are expected to leave office in September having served for 12 months.
However, on June 14 councillor Tamani Moyo proposed that the tenure of the current committees be indefinitely extended saying “you cannot change a winning team . . .change is disruptive and will negatively affect the performance of council”.
“I am extremely pleased with the manner in which council has performed so far in terms of carrying out its mandate of providing high-quality services such as required in the Act,” Moyo said.
“Despite the difficult economic conditions and political interference that council is operating under, it has demonstrated a lot of potential and determination to do better.
“There is a saying that goes you can’t change a winning team, in the same view I propose that the current resolution that requires committees to be changed annually be rescinded and allow the life of the committees to continue as they are indefinitely.
“Change is disruptive and will negatively affect the performance of council. Only so far the mayor has been inducted by the ministry; the induction of the deputy mayor and committee chairpersons is still outstanding. So it is not a good idea to change these before they have even been trained.”
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However, Moyo’s proposal did not go down well with other councillors, with Nephat Sibanda saying resisting due change raised suspicions of corruption.
“It is mandatory to change committees. We are witnessing scandalous activities in council. Change gives councillors a fair chance to learn about other committees,” he said.
He was supported by Clayton Zana who said it was surprising that the author of the motion was a fairly new councillor.
“We cannot stick on one committee. The danger is that you end up making contacts exposing yourself to corruption,” he said.
However, the consistent reference to “new councillors” angered first time councillors who accused “older councillors” of disrespect. Rodney Jele lashed at “disrespectful older councillors”.
“What is special about older councillors? We are the same here. We need respect. It’s too early to change committees,” he said.
“This is council not Bulawayo High School. We are not here to learn, but to deliver quality service to the city,” councillor Thobani Ncube said.
Due to sharp divisions in the chambers, mayor Martin Moyo called for a vote on the motions which saw councillors supporting continuity garnering 18 votes and those for rotation getting eight votes.
The mayor also voted against shuffling the committees.
