FORMER Chitungwiza mayor Lovemore Maiko has bounced back to his seat following a drama-filled full council meeting held on Friday where he outfoxed a government and Zanu PF appointee.
Chitungwiza was left without a substantive mayor when Maiko was recalled by the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora in March.
Councillor Kiven Mutimbanyoka became the acting mayor after he was appointed to the post by Local Government minister July Moyo.
Mutimbanyoka was later accused of frustrating efforts to hold elections to fill the post.
On Friday, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillors pushed for the holding of mayoral elections despite Mutimbanyoka’s resistance.
“In terms of the Urban Councils Act we must conduct an election to choose a mayor (substantive). It’s an urgent matter. Why are you stalling it?” CCC chief whip Richard Chamutsa said during the meeting.
Chamutsa was seconded by former deputy mayor Musa Makweza and several other councillors.
This did not go well with Mutimbanyoka who argued that the issue was still in the courts before walking out with acting clerk Evangelista Machona and other senior management staff.
“We cannot discuss issues that are before courts. I cannot continue, this meeting has been adjourned,” Mutimbanyoka said.
The councillors moved on to appoint Health and Environmental Services director Tonderai Kasu as the acting clerk.
The remaining councillors then unanimously re-elected Maiko.
“We cannot have a clerk who is politically biased. This is not about party politics but to serve the interest of people. Mutimbanyoka decided to walk out on his own will. So, one person cannot hold everyone to ransom,” Maiko said after his re-election.
“By following Mutimbanyoka, the acting clerk showed us that she is siding with him yet this is not about politics.”