TWELVE of the 16 suspended Gweru city councillors who last week snubbed tribunal hearings after their lawyers wrote to Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere arguing that the panel was not properly constituted, on Monday mellowed from their tough stance and appeared before the disciplinary panel.
BY STEPHEN CHADENGA
Kasukuwere last week wrote to the councillors, including mayor Hamutendi Kombayi, advising them to appear before a tribunal committee to answer to corruption, gross misconduct and maladministration charges levelled against them.
The tribunal, chaired by Lixon Chikumbirike, also includes former Midlands provincial administrator Stephen Chakaipa, Ganyani Khosa and prosecutor Justin Uladi.
Some of the MDC-T councillors who have since appeared are deputy mayor Artwell Matyorauta (ward 7), Nokuthula Mbano (ward 3) and Farai Muza (ward 17).
Zanu PF councillors Tiripai Chipondeni (ward 2) and Charles Simbi (ward 12) appeared on Monday.
Last Wednesday, the councillors’ lawyers wrote to Kasukuwere advising that their clients would not appear before the tribunal.
“In this regard, we wish to advise that the tribunal which you have set up fails to meet the requisite elements to be the tribunal envisaged in terms of Section 278 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” part of the letter, dated September 2 and signed by Tafadzwa Christmas from the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, read.
Chikumbirike could not be reached for comment on Monday as he was attending to the hearings.
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MDC-T Midlands South provincial spokesperson Munyaradzi Mutandavari could also not be reached for comment on his mobile phone.
