BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

A routine full council meeting at Victoria Falls City Council descended into chaos on Thursday evening after three councillors allegedly recalled from office refused to vacate their seats, triggering a dramatic standoff that ended with one councillor being arrested.

The meeting, held at the Victoria Falls City Council chambers shortly before 5 p.m., had begun ordinarily, with councillors, residents, council management and members of the public in attendance. Following an opening prayer, Mayor Tuso Moyo officially opened proceedings.

Moments later, Town Clerk Ronnie Dube read out a letter purportedly from Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe informing council that three councillors — Mthunzi Mpofu (Ward 9), Nkanyiso Sibindi (Ward 10) and Daniel Moyo (Ward 11) — had allegedly ceased to be members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

The letter instructed council to notify the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the vacancies in terms of constitutional and electoral provisions governing recalls.

What followed brought council business to a standstill.

The affected councillors immediately challenged the legitimacy of the recall, refusing to accept or acknowledge letters that council officials attempted to serve on them, but instead, the councillors tore up the letters and remained seated in the council chamber despite being advised by the Town Clerk to vacate their positions and sit in the public gallery.

The move sparked heated exchanges between councillors, council officials and residents, with proceedings grinding to a halt as arguments intensified.

Council security officers were called in to restore order, but tensions continued to escalate. The standoff lasted for nearly two hours, forcing council officials to summon officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

At the centre of the confrontation was Ward 10 councillor Nkayiso Sibindi, who strongly disputed the recall.

Addressing those gathered in the chamber, Sibindi argued that the recalled councillors had neither been expelled nor suspended by CCC Secretary-General Sengezo Tshabangu and claimed the process had been politically motivated.

He alleged that the recall had been orchestrated to derail an impending vote of no confidence against Mayor Moyo and Deputy Mayor Lungile Nyoni.

According to Daniel Moyo, 11 councillors had signed a petition seeking the removal of the mayor and his deputy over allegations of abuse of office, and the recalls came just as council was expected to deliberate on the matter.

As police entered the chamber, emotions boiled over.

Sibindi climbed onto a council table and damaged a laptop during the confrontation. He then moved toward the Town Clerk in an apparent attempt to confront him physically before self restraining.

Police officers quickly intervened, handcuffing Sibindi and escorting him from the chamber as stunned councillors and residents looked on.

Despite the disruption, Mayor Moyo later directed that the meeting continue. The remainder of the proceedings, however, were held behind closed doors.

Outside the council chambers, the recalled councillors maintained that the recalls were unlawful and politically motivated.

They expressed disappointment over the events that had unfolded, insisting they remained legitimate representatives of their wards and would challenge the process.

Residents who attended the meeting also voiced frustration, saying the prolonged confrontation had overshadowed issues affecting service delivery and local governance.

Several residents said they had attended the meeting expecting discussions on council operations and development issues but instead witnessed a political battle that consumed nearly two hours of proceedings.

As of Thursday evening, there was no immediate indication whether the recalled councillors would challenge the decision through the courts or whether ZEC had formally been notified of the vacancies.

Below are the links for footages

https://x.com/vic_falls_live/status/2062876332556448195?s=46

https://x.com/vic_falls_live/status/2062881688259027302?s=46

https://x.com/vic_falls_live/status/2062882372039668018?s=46

https://x.com/vic_falls_live/status/2062884691380772986?s=46

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A Victoria Falls City Council vehicle drove through residential suburbs on Tuesday urging parents and guardians to ensure children under five years of age receive oral polio vaccines during the second round of a vaccination campaign set to run from Tuesday to Friday.

The public address campaign announced that health workers would be conducting vaccinations door-to-door and at public places across the city as part of efforts to protect children from the highly infectious disease.

The vaccination exercise targets all children aged between zero and five years, regardless of their previous vaccination status.

Health authorities say the campaign is part of a wider national response aimed at preventing the spread of polio following outbreaks reported in neighbouring countries.

Vaccination teams are expected to visit homes, schools, crèches, churches, marketplaces, bus termini and other high-traffic public areas to ensure all eligible children are reached.

Polio has no cure but can be prevented through vaccination. Authorities are encouraging residents to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure children receive the life-saving vaccine.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In the wake of devastating floods that have left parts of Matabeleland North submerged during the just ended rain season, a profound act of international solidarity is unfolding in Hwange District.

As the region grapples with the aftermath of torrential rains that have decimated crops and isolated villages, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation has stepped in to provide a critical safety net for those the waters left behind.

In February, a dedicated team of 56 volunteers mobilised across the district to deliver emergency food relief to “700 affected households.” The distribution, centred on staples like “rice and maize meal,” was designed to reach those most at risk of acute food insecurity.

Recognising the unique vulnerability of the youngest victims, volunteers also provided bread to children gathered at distribution sites, offering immediate nourishment amidst the chaos of displacement.

The human face of this crisis is perhaps best exemplified by Namatama, an 83-year-old grandmother in Hwange who has long suffered from paralysis in both legs.

The floods compounded her significant hardships, making access to food nearly impossible.

In a gesture of solidarity, volunteers “personally delivered rice to her home to help relieve the family’s immediate food needs.”

However, the mission was marked by a poignant tragedy. Dino Chi, a senior volunteer, “unexpectedly passed away during the operation, after a demanding first day of distributing aid.”

His death sent shockwaves through the humanitarian community, yet his colleagues have refused to let the mission falter.

Instead, they have redoubled their efforts, “continuing the planned humanitarian activities in his memory” to ensure that the conviction that “together, we can make a change” remains a reality for Hwange.”

The Foundation is looking toward long-term recovery.

Volunteers have been meeting with local authorities to “better understand community conditions and evaluate future support possibilities in the region.”

These evaluations are critical for planning future support as the region faces ongoIng risks of waterborne diseases.

As Hwange begins the slow process of drying out, the presence of these volunteers serves as a reminder that the district is not alone.

The Foundation said remained committed to its core mission: to “relieve the suffering of those in need while creating a better world for all through compassion, love and hope.”