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Letter of resignation from Councillor for Ward 7
M. R. Laban
August 25, 2004

Cllr M. R. Laban
2 Woodfields, 44 Oxford Road
Avondale, Harare

25 August 2004

Re: Resignation from Council; Councillor for Ward 7

Having been elected to run the affairs of the City on behalf of the residents and ratepayers, I took an oath of office to do this and follow the laws of Zimbabwe. I now find, however, that I am not able to do this. The current situation in the Harare City Council is that others, who have not been elected for this purpose, run the affairs of the City.

The Minister, the Provincial Governor, the Deputy Mayor and the Town Clerk, as seen by their decisions, are not acting in the best interests, needs, and desires of the residents; they are also not in acting in accord with the Urban Councils Act. Finally their actions are not in keeping with upright, decent, honest, and accountable behaviours. Unfortunately, they run the affairs of the City in spite of those elected to do that job.

As some examples of the above I will cite the Minister's dismissal of the Mayor and Councillors (in violation of the Urban Council's Act), his directives not to hold elections for Deputy Mayor and Committees (also in violation of the Urban Council's Act), the failure to hold a budget consultative meeting (willful abandonment of Council decisions by the Town Clerk), the purchase of vehicles for the Deputy Mayor and Town Clerk (against Council Resolutions), the suspension of the City Treasurer (for reasons that have nothing to do with the City), the Town Clerk sitting in judgment on his own case and declaring a Council Resolution to be illegal (against all laws of natural justice, unprofessional and simple bad manners), and the appointment of officials to posts that do not exist and against Council decisions (i.e. Leslie Gwindi).

There are many more examples, all of which make it impossible for me to sit in a chamber that takes any form of responsibility for City decisions.

I hereby tender my resignation from the Harare City Council.

I offer my apologies to the officials who I have enjoyed working with, and wish to assure the residents that I have no intention of leaving the field of local government. I am merely stating that I can no longer be a part of the disgraceful, undemocratic and illegal decisions that are now coming forth.

M. R. Laban

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