By Brighton Chiseva
In a significant development, 30 out of 44 councilors at Zaka Rural District Council signed a motion to pass a vote of no confidence and removal of Chairperson Fungai Maregedze from her post.
The motion, written by Aleta Makomeke on May 5, highlights growing dissatisfaction among councilors with Maregedze’s leadership.
“I hereby move that the council of Zaka Rural District Council expresses a vote of no confidence against the council chair Councilor Fungai Maregedze due to her repeated violation of statutes and conduct unbecoming of a council chairperson as outlined in the constitution of Zimbabwe and the Rural District Council Act,” reads part of the motion.
Despite being penned over two weeks ago, the motion had not yet been acted upon, with sources revealing that it had been making its way through various channels.
The CEO allegedly took it to the District Development Coordinator (DDC) Gift Machukele, who then forwarded it to Local Government Director Roy Hove, and subsequently to Permanent Secretary in the office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr. Addmore Pazvakavambwa.
Contacted for comment by TellZim News, Makomeke said she could not comment on behalf of council, Machukele’s cell went unanswered several times.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa’s cell rang and as usual he dropped and sent a text message saying he was in a meeting. Dr Pazvakavambwa’s cell also rang and he dropped before sending a text message that he would call back later.
Notably, the motion is not along party lines, with four opposition councilors also appending their signatures in support of Maregedze’s ouster. Councillors accuse her of undermining the President by allegedly supporting councilor Zivanai Zvada, who is standing accused of undermining the President after forwarding a message in a ward group purporting a call to remove the President.
The motion argued that Maregedze’s presence in the WhatsApp group where the message was sent and her failure to condemn it suggests she supported those who forwarded the message.
“The council chair remains a member of the ward 24 WhatsApp group where Zivanai Zvada of ward 24 incited the public to engage in the 31st March 2025 protests and also called for the resignation of the President. It is quiet disturbing that the council chair continues to remain a member of the group. She is not moved,” reads part of the motion
They accuse her of dominating committee and full council meetings, overriding everyone, including management, in the process and that resulted in two senior managers leaving Zaka RDC.
“The council chair continues to dominate committee meetings hence stifling contributions from committee members creating an ‘I know it all syndrome’,” read the motion.
The feud between Maregedze and her deputy, as well as CEO David Majaura, has been simmering for some time. Councilors claim that Maregedze was overstepping her authority, interfering with the CEO’s duties, and undermining his decisions.
This has led to a breakdown in communication and cooperation between the council leadership and management, ultimately affecting the council’s operations and service delivery. The motion also notes that Maregedze tried to influence the ouster of the CEO but failed.
“The council chair was instrumental in influencing the suspension of the CEO without following proper procedure
The working relationship between Maregedze and the CEO deteriorated to the point where they cannot travel in the same vehicle, even when attending the same meeting. This has resulted in increased costs for the council, as they are forced to fuel two vehicles for the same meeting.
“Generally there is unjustifiable conflict between the CEO nad Council Chair. Relations are so bad that the two cannot travel in the same vehicle even for the same meeting,” reas part of the motion
Councilors also question Maregedze’s suitability for the role, accusing her of being elected council chairperson through her husband’s influence, who is an MP and Zaka DCC chairperson, despite having no experience in local authority operations. Maregedze is also accused of bullying other councilors in the councilors’ WhatsApp group.
Councilors were further angered by Maregedze’s statement that she could not work with her vice and the CEO, leading them to question who she could work with. When Maregedze sought to have the two removed, councilors saw it prudent to remove her instead, citing that she was impeding development in council.
The motion to oust Maregedze is seen as a culmination of these tensions, with councilors seeking to restore stability and effective governance at the council. The outcome of this motion will likely have significant implications for Zaka RDC’s operations and governance structure.
The motion which was leaked to TellZim News came out after Mavhenyengwa was tasked to convene a meeting with the council chair and her vice Svinurai Dawn Chivore to try and solve an impasse between them and preach unity among councilors. Mavhenyengwa’s meeting was after Chivore and had written a letter of complaint to the chief whip Livison Makwanye who also wrote a letter recommending Maregedze’s expulsion to Mavhenyengwa.
However, councilors argued that Mavhenyengwa was misled into believing that the feud between Maregedze and her deputy was causing all the drama, whereas it was Maregedze’s character that has resulted in the majority of councilors wanting to show her the exit door.
