Reinstated Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Somveli Dlamini has distanced himself from a letter he allegedly wrote resigning from the mayor’s position, claiming it was drafted by the MDC Alliance leadership and he was made to append his signature under duress.
Cllr Dlamini was expelled from his position in February this year for violating party rules and disrespecting protocol.
He was reinstated as a councillor for Ward 9 last Tuesday by Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo on the basis of a letter written to him by Douglas Mwonzora who was reinstated secretary-general of the MDC-T following a Supreme Court ruling. Said Dlamini:
I didn’t write that letter. The last part of the letter states that I would write to the Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube and I didn’t do that either which means that I haven’t resigned from the council as mayor.
If you look at that letter it was addressed to Charlton Hwende (MDC Alliance secretary) and not to the Town Clerk or the Minister hence I didn’t notify the Town Clerk of my resignation in terms of the Urban Councils Act.
The party leadership brought the letters and asked me to sign under duress. That election (of Cllr Mguni) is null and void because of the Supreme Court ruling and because I didn’t write a resignation letter.
I would say that the council meeting was a bogus meeting and the person who was elected is unlawfully in office. He is illegitimate as I was elected and sworn in.
Victoria Falls councillors have since replaced Dlamini with Ward 5 Councillor Richard Mguni in the mayor’s office saying he comes back as an ordinary councillor because he resigned.