CONFUSION last week rocked the embattled Jameson Timba-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction over whether its councillors should snub an indaba graced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Councillors from Zimbabwe’s 92 local authorities attended the Zimbabwe Local Government Association (Zilga) annual indaba in Harare on Tuesday last week.
CCC provincial administrators had blocked party councillors from attending the event arguing that it was a Zanu PF event.
Sources told NewsDay that councillors pleaded with party leaders to allow them to attend the event since they had already been given allowances by their respective local authorities.
NewsDay has also established that scores of CCC councillors arrived late for the event after acting party administrator Lesley Mukurazhizha rescinded the ban at the last minute.
In a communique to councillors dated November 26, 2024 seen by NewsDay, Mukurazhizha said the event was within the operations of councils.
“An appeal by some councillors clarifying the objectives and intent of the programme was received and reviewed and it was noted that such meetings have taken place in the past with our full participation...,”part of the communique read.
“That the intended programme is different from the indoctrination at the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, which your leadership had feared from the onset.”
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CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said there was “an internal miscommunication which was later clarified”.
“We have a standing resolution that bars our councillors from attending all programmes that are done under the auspices of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, not all other traditional programmes that have always been done under the Local Government ministry, the Urban Councils Act and the Constitution. This particular programme fell within the purview of the latter,” he said.
Councillors linked to a CCC faction led by Sengezo Tshabanngu and Welshman Ncube attended the event.
The Timba-led CCC has in the past barred its councillors from attending Zanu PF events disguised as national programmes.
Last month, Zanu PF and CCC councillors participated in the Zanu PF indoctrination programme at the Chitepo School of Ideology.
During the Zilga annual indaba, Mnangagwa decried rampant corruption within local authorities.
“I am deeply concerned by the cases of corruption in the local government space and the entire society,” Mnangagwa said.
“Those perpetrating such acts must face the full wrath of our country's law. No one, including local authorities, will be spared. Let us root out this menace from our society.”
A number of councillors including those from the opposition have been nabbed over corrupt dealings.
Councillors have opposed lifestyle audits that are aimed at removing any appetite they may have for corruption.
