Harare — GOVERNMENT has ordered Mutare mayor Councillor Brian James whom it accuses of defying legally issued directives to either reform or face the chop.

He has reportedly lost the support of his MDC-T councillors who feel he wants to surround himself with fellow whites as his support staff.

Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo wrote to Clr James on March 3 registering displeasure with the way business was being conducted at Mutare City Council.

"I have noted with concern your unrelenting proclivity towards defiance of legitimately issued ministerial directives.

"Instead of complying with such directives, you seem to avidly want to cause interrogation of my instructions premised on the Urban Councils Act; and in the process you seem to be overzealous to usurp the powers conferred on me by a subsisting Act of Parliament," read the letter.

On Tuesday, Clr James refused to comment on the matter.

"The issue is with the Prime Minister's Office. That is all I can say," he said.

Clr James refused to reinstate deputy mayor Clr Admire Mukorera to his post after the Mutare full council stripped him of his powers on allegations that he stole meat at Mrs Susan Tsvangirai's funeral in Buhera last year.

Clr Itai Masaga replaced him as deputy mayor.

He said the reasons for removing him from office were "manifestly unrelated to the management of the affairs of council".

Minister Chombo said the Urban Councils Act empowered him to give direction on policy matters, reverse, suspend, rescind resolutions, decisions and other business of councils.

Clr James is also accused of refusing to conclude exit packages for commissioners who held office during the period preceding the current council's incumbency.

He is also accused of attempting to reverse the allocation of stands to Mr J Manyuchi and Mr E Chinjekure among others.

"Good corporate governance dictates that the town clerk, who is the administrative head of council, ought to execute such functions as are administrative.

"You have no mandate to write letters to the clients or stakeholders nor do you have any legal premise to sign routine legal documents.

"You are directed to stop your forays into the administrative arena," wrote Minister Chombo.

He said Clr James' role was to convene and preside over meetings and make legal resolutions for the town clerk's execution.