Hamutendi Kombayi

Service/Career

2017 Tribunal

In February 2017, Hamutendi Kombayi was fired from his post as Gweru Mayor by Saviour Kasukuwere following recommendations made by an independent tribunal. He was fired together with Kenneth Sithole. The duo was among the 15 councillors who appeared before an independent tribunal headed by Isaac Muzenda for alleged gross misconduct, incompetence and mismanagement of council funds and affairs following their suspension in August 2015.

Kasukuwere said an independent tribunal had recommended that Kombayi and Sithole be discharged after they were found guilty of the charges they were facing. Other councillors, although they were found guilty were reengaged. ^[1]

Kombayi's charges included authorising payment of US$1 875 towards Morgan Tsvangirai's stay at Antelope Park and refusing to surrender his mayoral vehicle, a Mazda BT50, to council after he was suspended. When Kombayi and other councillors were suspended they appealed and won a High Court reprieve, which Kasukuwere defied. Instead, the minister appointed a three-member caretaker commission, led by Tsunga Mhangami, to run council affairs, pending the findings of the tribunal investigating the councillors.^[2]

Following his suspension, Hamutendi Kombayi held onto the livery collar (mayoral gold chain) and a council vehicle. He was later ordered to return the vehicle and mayoral regalia by the High Court. ^[3]

After he was fired, Kombayi was replaced by Charles Chikozho. Kombayi approached the High Court which reinstated him as an ordinary councillor at the end of October 2017. Hamutendi Kombayi and Kenneth Sithole contested their dismissal from council and won their case after Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi set aside the decision of an independent tribunal that recommended their sacking. In his judgment dated 31 October 2017, Mathonsi also ordered that Kombayi and Sithole should be reinstated as mayor and ordinary Councillor respectively. He said the two had been fired unjustifiably and ordered their immediate reinstatement without loss of allowances and benefits. He also ordered the government to pay the legal costs of the application. ^[4]

Kombayi attended his first council meeting after being reinstated by the High Court on 14 November 2017. He told The Chronicle that he was going to work with Chikozho for the development of Gweru. He said it did not matter whether or not he was the mayor. ^[5]

Election As Mayor 2022

On 11 January 2022, Hamutendi Kombayi (Cllr Ward 1) was re-elected as Mayor of Gweru after beating Martin Chivhoko (Cllr Ward 4) in a secret ballot. He won by 11 votes to 4 with one spoiled paper. Clr Kombayi should be Mayor until the next general elections in 2023. Deputy Mayor would remain Clr Cleopas Shiri, who was acting Mayor. Clr Kombayi was previously Mayor from 2013 to 2017. Clr Josiah Makombe was elected mayor after the 2018 elections, before being recalled by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T).

The elections were presided over by Gweru district development co-ordinator Mr Ndeya Nyede. Acting town clerk Mr Douglas Vakayi Chikwekwe said the elections were held in accordance with the law. ^{[6] [7]}

Mayor Addresses Council

City of Gweru Mayor, his worship Cllr Hamutendi Kombayi addressed the 697th full council meeting on 31 January 2023. Through his Mayoral communication speech, the Mayor tasked the health department to ensure that they improve refuse collection. He also encouraged the Director of Engineering services to improve water provisions in the city. ^[8]

2023 Mayoral Election

Following the 23-24 August 2023 elections, in which CCC won 18 Wards, the election of Mayor is due to proceed. Incoming CCC councillors were;

• Mercy Mangwanya (Ward 1)
• Faith Chuma (Ward 2),
• Martin Chivhoko (re-elected Ward 4)
• Aaron Mumvana (Ward 5)
• Lovemore Choto (Ward 6)
• Marufu (Ward 7)
• Jackos Manyanga (Ward 8)
• Nyaradzo Madzikure (Ward 9)
• Admire Paradza (Ward 10)
• Kummirai Rutsvara (Ward 11)
• Augustine Mutusva (Ward 13)
• Danny Ndava (re-elected Ward 14).
• Munyaradzi Prosperity Chikwira (Ward 15)
• Phillimon Mawere (Ward 16)
• Norest Dzivakwe (Ward 17)
• William Mazango (Ward 18)

Zanu PF will have one representative Fortunate Mlambo.

CCC also took the majority of the Women’s quota councillors;

• Sipiwe Kundiona
• Miriam Magaya
• Ronah Masocha
• Olivia Chakauya

Former mayor Hamutendi Kombayi lost his council seat.

New Mayor candidates may include Martin Chivhoko (Ward 4 Councillor), with competition from CCC senator Mr Sesil Zvidzai’s wife Clr Girlie Zvidzai (Ward 3) and former mayor Tedious Chimombe (Ward 12). Former Mayor, now Gweru Urban MP Dr Josiah Makombe, and Mkoba North MP Amos Chibaya are expected to have influence in this election, as well as Party leader Nelson Chamisa.

Gweru Residents and Ratepayer Association (GRRA) director, Cornelius Selipiwe, urged CCC to conduct internal interviews to determine who the city’s next mayor becomes.

The challenge we might have is that those with money will end up winning even if they don’t have the qualities to be the mayor”. Selipiwe said it was unfortunate that the electorate just elected councillors because of a political party they belong to and not because of individual qualities.

Gweru spokesperson Ms Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the orientation date for the elected councillors hasn’t been set yet. ^[9]

Events

Arrest 2016

On 10 March 2016, Hamutendi and town clerk Mr Daniel Matawu were arrested over allegations of theft, fraud and criminal abuse of office involving a total of US$1 850.^[3]

Football Club

In 2016, Kombayi bankrolled Gweru United. In August 2016 the club failed to assemble a team to face FC Platinum Under-19 at Ascot Stadium for a Zifa Central Soccer League match. Gweru United only managed to field eight players for the match and were beaten 1-4 by FC Platinum Under-19 team. ^[10]

References