BULAWAYO – Christopher Dube has left his role as Bulawayo’s town clerk after his contract was not renewed, acting mayor Edwin Ndlovu announced on Wednesday.
Dube had been in the job since October 1, 2016, when he succeeded the late Middleton Nyoni.
In a notice, Ndlovu announced: “The town clerk’s (second) four-year contract with the City of Bulawayo ended at midnight on September 30, 2024. Whereas council had resolved in February this year to extend the contract subject to approval by the local government board, a request for approval was sent to the board on March 25, 2024.
“However, by the end of September 30, 2024, such approval had not been obtained. In the circumstances therefore, the town clerk vacated office at midnight on September 30, 2024, by expiration of contract.”
Chamber secretary Sikhangele Zhou will be acting town clerk until Dube’s successor is selected.
Ndlovu said the city would soon commence the search for a new town clerk.
Dube survived a plot by some councillors to oust him in 2019 when he was denied access to his office for several days.
The councillors, led by then deputy mayor Tinashe Kambarami, had seized their moment when mayor Solomon Mguni was on leave and suspended Dube over corruption allegations.
The two men clashed in Dube’s office in an incident captured in a viral video in which the town clerk launched a profanity-filled tirade at Kambarami, adding: “Ngizaphuma nxa iwofisi ingekanyoko (I will only leave office if it’s your mother’s).”
Kambarami locked Dube out of the office for several days before Mguni nullified the suspension.
Dube, a war veteran, joined the city from Victoria Falls where he was also town clerk.
