By a Correspondent
Bulawayo Ward 1 councillor Josiah Mutangi has been removed from office after an independent tribunal found him guilty of misconduct following his conviction on 13 counts of fraud.
Mutangi’s ouster brings an abrupt end to his tenure as a city councillor following a scandal in which he was accused of collecting money from street vendors by falsely promising to secure them vending bays outside established Bulawayo City Council procedures.
The tribunal found that Mutangi misrepresented his authority by assuring vendors that he could secure them trading spaces in return for payments, despite having no legal mandate to allocate vending bays.
The scheme culminated in criminal proceedings, with Mutangi convicted on 13 counts of fraud. He was subsequently ordered to perform 490 hours of community service at Bulawayo Central Police Station and to repay the money owed to the victims.
The criminal conviction triggered separate disciplinary proceedings before an independent tribunal, which ruled that Mutangi’s conduct amounted to misconduct incompatible with the responsibilities and integrity expected of a councillor and public office holder.
His removal leaves Ward 1 without an elected councillor and is expected to trigger processes to fill the vacancy.
The case has raised fresh questions over the oversight of vending spaces in Bulawayo and the vulnerability of informal traders to individuals who exploit their desperation for access to scarce trading space.
It has also intensified calls for greater transparency in the allocation of vending bays and stronger accountability mechanisms to prevent public officials from abusing their positions for personal gain.
The case serves as a stark reminder that elected officials entrusted with public office are expected to uphold the law, act with integrity and protect the interests of the communities they represent.
