BULAWAYO High Court judge, Justice Martin Makonese yesterday reserved judgment in former Bulawayo deputy mayor Gift Banda’s appeal against dismissal by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
BY SILAS NKALA
Banda was fired by Kasukuwere following recommendations by an independent tribunal appointed by the minister in December last year.
Banda filed an application for review of his dismissal in which he also sought reinstatement to his councillorship and deputy mayoral position.
This came after the High Court recently ordered the tribunal to release the record of its proceedings which convicted him of misconduct, leading to his dismissal.
Banda, through his lawyer Kholwani Ngwenya, initially sued members of the tribunal, Kasukuwere and the city council demanding access to the record of the proceedings which recommended his dismissal over allegations of misconduct.
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Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi recently granted the application ordering the tribunal to unveil the record to Banda.
Yesterday, Justice Makonese heard Banda’s application for review in which he also sought to be reinstated to his job.
Makonese reserved judgment on the matter indefinitely.
In his founding affidavit, Banda submitted that he was fired unprocedurally, claiming the corruption allegations levelled against him were baseless.
State allegations were that Banda abused his position as deputy mayor and councillor to acquire some properties without following laid down council procedures.