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MDC-T yesterday gave in to the Government’s order barring non-councillors from being elected mayors and council chairpersons when voting for the positions took place across the country. The Government’s directive is in line with the provisions of the New constitution.In Bulawayo, Ward 3’s councillor, Clr Martin K Moyo was elected unopposed as mayor while Clr Gift Banda was elected as his deputy.
The elections could have sounded the death knell to MDC-T’s battle to have the courts compel the Government to allow non-councillors to be elected mayors or chairpersons.
It is another morale shattering blow to the party after being routed by Zanu-PF in the 31 July harmonised elections. The party attempted to challenge the election outcome but later withdrew the case after realising that its case was weak. It later filed an urgent application challenging the Government’s decision to bar non- councillors from contesting as mayors or chairperson but lost the case as the High Court ruled that the matter was not urgent.

In his brief acceptance speech, Clr Moyo pledged to prioritise the provision of water and other aspects of service delivery in the city.
“We have to appreciate that we are waking up from a huge catastrophe, a collapse. Our roads are broken, our public places are not properly lit and we have problems providing water. Many other social services need to be attended to so I pledge before you today that this council will do its utmost to deliver,” said Clr Moyo.

He said Bulawayo preceding councils had left behind a legacy of the best run city in the country and the present council had to live up to that reputation.

“I am confident that with this team of councillors, we will preserve the legacy,” said Clr Moyo.
In Bulawayo MDC-T had tried to impose a National University Science and Technology lecturer for the Bulawayo mayoral post.
In Gweru the councillors defied the party’s national executive directive and voted ward One councillor, Clr Hamutendi Kombayi as city mayor and Clr Artwell Machorawuta (Ward 7) as his deputy

The MDC-T’s preferred candidate was Clr Charles Chikozho of Ward 14 while Clr Kenneth Sithole (Ward (4) was the preferred candidate for deputy’s post.

Clr Kombayi is the son to the late Gweru businessman and the city’s first black mayor, Patrick Kombayi.
Clr Kombayi polled 12 votes against Mr Chikozho’s six while Clr Machorauta landed the deputy mayor’s post after beating Clr Sithole with 11 votes against seven.

MDC-T national executive members  and members of the National Assembly, namely, Mr Amos Chibaya (Mkoba), Mr Sessil Zvidzayi (Gweru Urban) and Mrs Lucia Matibenga who  attended the elections in the council chambers  could be seen whispering to each other while exchanging notes soon after Mr Kombayi’s “shock” win.

Addressing other councillors soon after taking the oath, Clr Kombayi paid tribute to democracy and urged his colleagues to brace for a huge task of taking Gweru forward.

Mr Zvidzayi and Mr Chibaya both declined to comment over the councillors’ decision to defy the party directive.
Masvingo councillors elected Ward 6 councillor Hubert Fidze as the mayor.

Clr David Chiwara of Ward 3 was voted the deputy mayor.
In Gwanda Zanu-PF Ward 3 three Councillor, Knowledge Ndlovu was elected as the mayor and would be deputised by Ward 10’s Clr Albert Ndlovu. The two were elected unopposed.

There are seven Zanu-PF councillors, two from MDC-T and one MDC.
In his acceptance speech, Clr Ndlovu expressed his gratitude to the people of Gwanda and Matabeleland South Province as a whole for putting their trust in him and Zanu-PF.

“I feel greatly honoured to be elected into the office of mayor of Gwanda Town. I would like to thank the people of Gwanda and Matabeleland South for putting their trust in us as Zanu-PF.

“We are going to work tirelessly and dedicate ourselves to servicing our communities and transform lives of the people for the better,” said Clr Ndlovu, who is a well known businessman.

Also 24 councillors for Gwanda Rural District Council were sworn in with Ward 12 Clr Johnson Mangwangwa Dube being retained as the council chairperson. He would be deputised by Clr Jorum Ndlovu of Ward 20.

In the Gwanda RDC, Zanu-PF has 14 councillors, eight from MDC-T while MDC has two.
Chairpersons of the six committees were also elected.

In Beitbridge, the local district administrator, Mr Simon Muleya, presided over the swearing-in of 21 councillors for both town and rural district councils.

Clr  Gladys Tlou (Ward 10) was re-elected chairperson with Cde Joseph Muleya of ward 6 deputising her.
In her acceptance speech, Cde Tlou said she would prioritise rehabilitating clinics and rural roads.

In Beitbridge Town Council, Clr Showa Moyo from Ward 5 was elected the new chairperson while Clr Gift Nyoni of Ward 3 was voted vice-chairperson.

Cde Moyo said their main focus would be on nipping corruption in the bud as well as working with key stakeholders in attracting investment to the border town. The Minister of Home Affairs, Cde Kembo Mohadi, who is also MP for Beitbridge East, attended the ceremonies.

He urged the councillors to work together with stakeholders to ensure a sustainable growth and development of the town.
In Umguza RDC, 19 councillors were sworn-in by the chief executive officer Mr Collen Moyo at the local authority’s offices in Bulawayo.
Ward Two Councillor Cde Mary Shelton was elected council chairperson and is deputised by Cde Albert Ncube of Ward 14.

The member of the National Assembly for Umguza constituency, Dr Obert Mpofu, who was the guest of honour, congratulated the councillors for winning the elections and challenged them to take their work seriously.