Calls for improved accountability, stronger council systems, and better representation have emerged ahead of the Ward 1 by-election following the suspension of Bulawayo Zanu PF councillor Josiah Mutangi over alleged vendor-bay fraud.
Mutangi was suspended by Local Government and Public Works minister Daniel Garwe after the minister stated there were reasonable grounds to suspect the councillor of gross misconduct and wilful violation of the law.
The suspension, which was brought before the latest Bulawayo City Council meeting, followed allegations that Mutangi committed 14 counts of fraud by allegedly soliciting and accepting money from vendors in exchange for promising to allocate vending bays.
The allegations have not been tested by an independent tribunal or a court.
Former Bulawayo deputy mayor Mlandu Ncube and ex-Ward 1 councillor, said residents needed a representative who prioritised engagement and respected the community.
Ncube, who has not confirmed whether he will contest the seat, said the ward required leadership that would involve residents in council programmes and support informal traders.
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“Our ward needs proper representation, someone who will respect people and someone who will engage the community in every council programme,” he said.
He said the next councillor should also focus on creating sustainable solutions for informal traders by ensuring they have proper trading spaces.
“Someone who will assist the informal sector to get proper trading areas such as the ones we did near Highlanders and others,” he said.
Ibhetshu LikaZulu secretary-general Mbuso Fuzwayo said the controversy surrounding Ward 1 reflected deeper challenges in the country’s local governance system rather than a council-specific crisis.
Fuzwayo argued that political interference had weakened accountability mechanisms within local authorities.
“It’s not a council crisis, it’s the central government that is failing to have a proper governance system,” Fuzwayo said.
He alleged that the suspended councillor had been engaging in activities involving vendors even before becoming a councillor, adding that the council struggled to act because of political dynamics.
“The suspended councillor was abusing his position even when he was not a councillor,” he said. “He put people outside council and council couldn’t do anything because he was always in a camouflage of a party against council.”
Fuzwayo called for reforms that would protect vulnerable groups, including informal traders, from possible exploitation by political actors. He argued that council officials should take responsibility for administration, while elected representatives should focus on oversight. Fuzwayo also proposed changes to the way vending spaces are managed, saying informal traders should be organised through associations rather than having direct dealings with individual political figures.
“Council must have a policy that promotes association, and associations control bays. Council must not directly work with vendors,” he said.
However, Fuzwayo said he had not yet decided whether he would contest in the by-election but stressed that Ward 1 required effective leadership. “At the moment I cannot confirm whether I will be the candidate or not, but what I can say is that Ward 1 needs leadership,” he said.
The by-election is expected to provide residents with an opportunity to choose a new representative to address service delivery concerns and rebuild confidence in local leadership.