Legal Experts Say Mayoral Posts Open to Non-Councillors

WASHINGTON —  Legal experts have dismissed the government’s assertion that only elected councilors reserve the right to be mayors or chairpersons in the country’s 92 local authorities.

The state media quoted secretary for Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Mr. Killian Mpingo on Thursday saying each local authority can only elect a councilor who represents a ward for such posts.

The Herald newspaper has criticised officials of the Movement for Democratic Change formation led by out-going Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who are not elected councillors for “jostling” for the mayoral posts.

However, one such MDC-T official Kucaca Phulu, who is said to be vying for the Bulawayo mayoral post said the Urban Councils Act and the new constitution allow councillors to elect any party member for the posts.