By Rutendo Mapfumo

Tonderai Mutasa’s swearing-in as Ward 1 Councillor in Victoria Falls has sparked debate among residents and opposition parties. The controversy surrounding Mutasa’s ascension to the council seat began when his rival, Ephias Mambume, was disqualified from the election.

Mambume, who was initially registered to contest the Ward 1 seat under the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), was booted out of the party and subsequently registered as an independent candidate. However, his bid for the council seat was short-lived.

A resident of Victoria Falls, who wishes to remain anonymous, sued Mambume in court for failing to pay water taxes to the council. The High Court ruled in favour of the resident, finding Mambume guilty of the charges. As a result, Mambume was stripped of his right to compete under national law.

The court’s ruling paved the way for Zanu PF to swear in Mutasa as the new Ward 1 Councillor. Zanu PF chairperson Matthew Muleya hailed Mutasa’s swearing-in as a victory for the party, saying it demonstrated that Zanu PF was still a force to be reckoned with in Victoria Falls.

“We are pleased that Tonderai Mutasa has been sworn in as the new Ward 1 Councillor. This shows that Zanu PF is still alive and kicking in Victoria Falls. We hope that Mutasa will work closely with other councillors to deliver services to the people,” he said.

New Ziana