City of Bulawayo Elevates Six Former Councillors to Alderman

The City of Bulawayo has elevated six former councillors to the dignity of Alderman in recognition of their services to the city.

The elevation was in line with the Urban Councils Act, Chapter 29:15 which provides that a Municipal Council may appoint to the dignity of Alderman any person who has held office as Mayor or Councillor on that Council for a period of, or for periods which in the aggregate amount to “eight years or more in the case of Mayor, or ten years or more in the case of a Councillor”.

The Mayor of Bulawayo, Councillor Solomon Mguni moved the motion at a special council meeting held on Monday, August 16, 2021.

“The City Council unanimously resolved that in terms of the Urban Councils Act, Chapter 29:15, Deputy Mayor Mlandu Ncube, Councillors Silas Chigora, Pilate Moyo, Macdonald Venias Chunga, Rodney Donovan Jele, and Mzama Dube, being duly qualified and in recognition of the services rendered by them to the City, be elected and appointed as Alderman of this City and be authorised to use the Crest and Armorial Bearings adopted for the purpose by Local Government Association of Zimbabwe and accepted by the Council,” Councillor Mguni read.

The Mayor then proceeded to present the aldermen with their aldermanic scrolls and caskets, while their spouses received floral tributes.

Speaking to the attendance during the ceremony, one of the newly elevated Aldermen, Mzama Dube, expressed his gratitude to the City of Bulawayo and his plans to continue serving the city.

RELATED CONTENT: Bulawayo’s Economy Grew at An Average Rate of 5% During Outgoing Mayor’s Tenure

“It has been a very good experience serving the city. I enjoyed my term mostly because there was support from the residents. Despite the challenges, the people of Bulawayo showed us direction. They supported me throughout my terms in office. We promise to support the incoming council in every way we possibly can,” Alderman Dube said.

Another Alderman, Silas Chigora, spoke on the challenges and responsibilities of holding public office.

“It has been a long ten years. It is not easy being in a public office, you have to forgo a lot of things. Your conduct as a person has to be at its best. For Bulawayo to prosper, let us remember that we should argue differently but the point should be that of building Bulawayo. We all have different ideas and that is what builds Bulawayo. Let us argue with points not with names and surnames but with views that will build the city,” Alderman Chigora said.

The Mayor of Bulawayo, Councillor Solomon Mguni, praised the newly elevated aldermen for their dedication and service to the city.

“On behalf of the Bulawayo City Council, I want to congratulate and commend the newly elevated Aldermen for their dedication and service to the city. Their elevation is a fitting recognition of their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the city of Bulawayo. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors,” he said.