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State fires 13 councillors
By Michael Padera, The Herald (Zimbabwe)
July 26, 2004

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=34180&pubdate=2004-07-26

Government has fired the 13 Harare City councillors who were suspended in early June for interfering in the management of council affairs.

The councillors were sacked on Friday.

The Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Ignatius Chombo, said the councillors were found guilty of disrupting council meetings.

He said the disruptions had resulted in the decline of service delivery for the city.

The dismissed councillors are Christopher Mushonga, Peter Chikati, Shingirai Kondo, Peter Karimakwenda, Last Maenga-hama, Tapfumaneyi Bangajena, Wendy Dehwa, Tichanzii Ganda-nga, Elijah Manjeya, Wellington Madzivanyika, Linus Paul Mushonga and Oswell Badza.

Six other councillors — Falls Nhari, Fani Munengami, Jerome O’Brien, Kenneth Nhemachena, Benjamin Maimba and Tsaurai Marima — were expelled from council last year for conduct inconsistent with the governance of the city.

The latest dismissal brings to 19 the number of fired councillors and leaves Harare with 26 councillors.

However, there seems to be confusion in the councillors’ camp as some say they would challenge the dismissal with others saying chances of winning the case were very remote.

Clr Manjeya yesterday said challenging the Government decision would be futile.

"We do not have any chance in the courts. There is no justice," he said.

He said Cde Chombo failed to lay specific charges against them, adding that it was disturbing to note that they were fired for carrying out their mandate.

"The problem is that (Cde) Chombo has taken over the operations of council. He has said it before that he does not want an MDC council for Harare," said Clr Manjeya.

The MDC, which dominates the Harare City Council, is also the main opposition in Parliament.

But Clr Maengahama said the councillors would contest the sacking.

"We will challenge the dismissal. At the same time we will seek a political solution," he said.

He, however, said the court challenge was a formality since they (councillors) had lost confidence in the judiciary system.

"We just want to put it on record that we were not happy with the dismissal," he said.

Clr Kondo refused to comment yesterday, saying he would only do so today.

The councillors recently appeared for a disciplinary hearing before a Government-appointed committee that was chaired by Manicaland acting provincial administrator Mr Fungai Mbetsa.

Other members of the hearing committee were Masvingo provincial administrator Mr Felix Chikovo, Kwekwe City Council chamber secretary Mr Edward Mapara and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority legal advisor Mr Chinondidyachii Mararike.

The suspension came after the councillors defied a Government directive stopping the holding of elections to choose a new deputy mayor and standing committees.

"It has come to my attention that certain activities on your part continue to interfere with the management of council affairs, thus hindering the efficient operation of council and subsequently the delivery of services to the people of Harare," said Cde Chombo when he suspended the councillors.

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