MDC and civic society groups in Bulawayo yesterday accused Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo of meddling “too much” in Bulawayo City Council affairs and behaving as if he was the chief executive officer for the local authority.
Report by Blondie Ndebele Own correspondent
MDC Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Edwin Ndlovu told NewsDay yesterday Chombo had overstepped his mandate.
“Chombo is abusing his powers and behaving like a CEO of council who can appoint councillors anytime he deems necessary,” he said. “He should be reminded that he is a mere policymaker and should not rule by intimidation.”
The statements were in response to Chombo’s recent threat to fire Bulawayo town clerk Middleton Nyoni for allegedly defying his directive to appoint Fidelis Fengu as a special interest councillor.
Chombo over the weekend repeated his threats during a Zanu PF campaign rally at Stanley Square Hall and gave council a three-day ultimatum to appoint Fengu as a special interest councillor.
The Zanu PF politburo member accused the local authority of declaring war against him and vowed to fight back.
However, Ndlovu said Chombo should respect the laws of the country and a recent High Court order blocking Fengu’s appointment.
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In a separate interview, Matabeleland Civil Society Forum spokesperson Dumisani Nkomo said Chombo’s threats were uncalled for.
“It is important to have disabled people in the government, but the process has to be democratic,” he said. “He is overdoing it by threatening the council.
“In fact, these are the issues that have to be dealt with by the constitution, to limit the powers of the Local Government minister.”
Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association (BPRA) co-ordinator Roderick Fayayo also blasted the minister.
“Chombo has a problem of appointing special interest councillors without taking the interest of the people at heart,” he said.
“He is appointing people that interest him.”
BPRA has in the past accused Chombo of abusing the Urban Councils Act for political expediency.
