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
