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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
VICTORIA Falls residents have demanded the reinstatement of Mayor Councillor Somvelo Dlamini who was fired by the MDC Alliance last week.

The Nelson Chamisa led party fired Clr Dlamini on Wednesday on allegations of bringing the party into disrepute by defying directives and undermining protocol among other charges.

Clr Dlamini contested and won the mayor’s post against the party preferred candidate Clr Margaret Valley.

Angry residents convened a meeting on Friday where they castigated Mr Chamisa and his party for meddling in council business.

Residents said the resort town council had been ‘captured’ by a cartel of councillors with personal interests.

They resolved to stage a peaceful march this week to force for the reinstatement of Clr Dlamini.

“We voted for councillors so they can vote for a mayor which they did. Now we have three councillors and some people who want him out. Victoria Falls has been ‘captured’ by a few evil and greedy people and we need to stand up and fight for our rights,” said a resident Mr Trymore Ndolo.

Another resident concurred, accusing ‘outsiders’ of pushing a selfish agenda to take over Victoria Falls.

“We want a person with our interests at heart not a foreigner to lead us. That is why we rallied behind Dlamini because he is a local. If Chamisa thinks whoever they want to impose will occupy that office he has to think twice,” he said.

The residents association was tasked to organise the demonstration.

“We didn’t go to vote in Harare and why should we be ruled through a directive from Chamisa. We got to know Chamisa through Dlamini and all we want now is for Chamisa to reinstate him,” said one of the residents.

— @ncubeleon