10 June 2025 | Sikhumbuzo Moyo | Herald Online
BULAWAYO City Council has controversially removed Councillor Perseverance Nyathi as its Junior Council patron, replacing her with proportional representation councillor Mercy Furanayi, in a move that reportedly contradicts a standing council resolution passed last year.
In August 2023, councillors resolved that all committee chairpersons — including those from outside council chambers, such as representatives from the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), Bulawayo Polytechnic, and city sports clubs — would not be removed from office until 2028.
The motion to remove Councillor Nyathi was introduced by Ward 10 Councillor Khalazani Ndlovu, who argued that a Junior Council patron should be someone under the age of 50.
However, the final decision appears to have been influenced by internal party dynamics within the deeply divided Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). A notice sent to councillors on June 4, indicated that the party had resolved to remove Councillor Nyathi and replace her with Councillor Furanayi.
The notice, circulated via WhatsApp, was signed by one M Siso — believed to be Mbuso Siso — who serves as treasurer to the self-appointed party Secretary General, Sengezo Tshabangu. The message read:
“Please note that the CCC party province and the office of the Secretary General S Tshabangu have come up with a resolution to have Councillor P Nyathi being replaced by Councillor M Furanayi as Patron of the Junior Council. By Order CCC Bulawayo Provincial executive and the office of the Secretary General.”
Councillor Nyathi confirmed that she was no longer the patron of the Junior Council and that the announcement was made during the most recent full council meeting held on Wednesday.
“Yes, it’s true. I’ve been removed from my position as patron of the Junior Council,” she said in a brief response.
Sources within council chambers revealed that although Councillor Nyathi accepted her removal with dignity, the process was procedurally flawed. Some councillors, particularly women, were reportedly coerced into supporting the motion by Councillor Ndlovu, under threat of being recalled.
“We always claim that Zanu-PF is a dictatorial party, which is clearly not true. The real dictatorship is within CCC, especially under the current leadership.
“We were forced to support this ridiculous motion under the threat that Senator Tshabangu and his allies would recall us from council,” said one councillor, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Another councillor echoed these concerns, highlighting the intimidation faced by female councillors in particular.
“We have untouchables — councillors who want to be kingmakers in chambers. They’ve even created a separate WhatsApp group where they discuss their illicit agendas.
“At one point, they even attempted to remove Mayor David Coltart and replace him with one of their own. Senator Tshabangu had to intervene to stop them,” the councillor said.
Check Point obtained WhatsApp messages from the councillors’ group chat on the eve of last week’s full council meeting. In one message, an irate Councillor Melissa Mabeza declared that she feared no one and would not be intimidated by someone she claimed had once washed cars while she was already active in politics.
“All those sucking up to Mbuso, asking him to send his funny notices, must stop it. I was a politician when Mbuso was washing cars — don’t (expletive) me.
“If you have the capacity, why not run the race properly instead of always resorting to intimidation tactics? I fear nothing. I got into this council when all odds were against me. Even if I’m recalled today or tomorrow, I’ll still survive. Don’t go around looking for favours using my name,” she wrote.
Another councillor, Sikhululekile Moyo, raised concerns about the ongoing intimidation and mistreatment of female councillors within the local authority.
“Lapha uze ngenye, ukuhlukumezwa kwabantu besimame (Here you are again, with yet another instance of the abuse of women),” she wrote in response to the discussion.