The High Court has ruled that Tinashe Kambarami should be reinstated as Ward 3 councillor and Bulawayo deputy mayor following his suspension from local authority activities over a theft case.
Kambarami filed an appeal against his suspension and the Supreme Court set aside the lower court’s decision to nullify his election as a councilor and deputy mayor.
Kambarami said, “I have been reinstated. As you know I had quite a number of applications following the Supreme Court judgment that was passed last year which basically set aside the nullification of my election as Ward 3 councillor and deputy mayor of the City of Bulawayo by Chief Justice (Thompson) Mabhikwa. I had to appeal against that before the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Mabhikwa’s judgment was set aside. Following that, I had to go back to council where I faced resistance. The council denied me access to my office and resuming my duties as a councilor and deputy mayor.
“I then approached the court for a declaratur and sometime early this year before we had by elections I had to approach the court. I had an urgent application which had to stop the Nomination Court for the Ward 3 by-election. After that, we had to wait for the outcome of the declaratur. We received the outcome today. I have been reinstated as councilor for Ward 3 and deputy mayor for the City of Bulawayo.”
Kambarami said he is happy to be back as one of the city fathers.
“It’s a very good thing after all these battles in court and also it has been some kind of experience because I have gone through a lot of hustles, legal challenges and all these political fights where sometimes you will see some legal professionals even trying to push for political judgments instead of letting the law take its course.”
The ruling was made today by Justice Martin Makonese. There was no immediate comment from the Bulawayo City Council.