Mxolisi Ndlovu, an MDC councillor for Umguza Rural District Council in Matabeleland North province has taken Local Government, Rural and Urban Development minister, Ignatious Chombo head on following his suspension on 27 April 2012 on dubious allegations.

Ndlovu is also the MDC District chairperson for Umguza.

The Ward 4 Councillor was suspended after querying council's decision to illegally award a tender to reconstruct Ilitshe Road in Ward 9 to Notify Enterprises, an unknown organisation which did not have equipment and whose quotation was $300 000 more than that of renowned companies.

Other companies which lost the tender to reconstruct the 12km stretch are Drawcard Enterprises and AP Glendening.

The Zanu PF -led council did not inspect the company's equipment prior to awarding the tender to Notify Enterprises, thereby flouting tender procedures. The council went on to allow the company to use council employees, graders, tippers and bowsers to repair the road.

In his letter Ref: CX 154, Chombo suspended Clr Ndlovu without benefits in terms of Section 157(1)(d)(ii) of the Rural District Councils Act chapter 29:13 as amended by Section 14 of the Local Authorities Election Laws Amendment Act No. 21 of 1997.

In the suspension letter, Chombo accused Clr Ndlovu of operating inconsistently with the interests of Umguza Rural District Council affecting the smooth operations of the Local Authority, a charge denied by the councillor. Detailed charges have not been served on Clr Ndlovu.

MDC condemns the deep-rooted culture of corruption within Zanu PF which has seen the massive plunder of State resources and calls on Chombo to stop victimising elected councillors and desist from corrupt tendencies.

Umguza Rural District Council is chaired by Mrs Sikhanyisiwe Mpofu, wife to Mines minister Obert Mpofu. Of the 22 council members, Zanu PF has 12, MDC has three and four from the other parties, while Chombo appointed three special interests councillors.

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