LCC suspends mayor

LCC suspends mayor
By Lambwe Kachali
Wednesday March 05, 2008 [03:00]

THE Lusaka City Council has indefinitely suspended mayor Stephen Chilatu for allegedly irregularly allocating himself a house in Ibex Hill and nominating Sanford Mwenda to replace him at the NCC without the council’s authority. But Chilatu said he followed all the necessary procedures before he shifted into that house. The decision to suspend Chilatu was reached at during a full council meeting on Monday which was chaired by the deputy mayor Mary Phiri and Lusaka town clerk Timothy Hakuyu.

The councillors, particularly those from the Patriotic Front, questioned Chilatu’s leadership to allocate himself a house without following council procedures.
The councillors also wondered how Chilatu could, in his own capacity, nominate a person to sit on the NCC when it was the council which was supposed to make such a nomination.

Munali PF member of parliament Mumbi Phiri charged that Chilatu’s decision to nominate Mwenda as his replacement at the NCC after he withdrew, without the council’s knowledge and approval was tantamount to corruption. She suggested that Chilatu be investigated for corruption. Mumbi said PF was against the NCC and therefore Chilatu went against the party’s position on the matter.

Mandevu member of parliament Jean Kapata said Chilatu had not only offended PF but the council as a whole and therefore did not deserve the position of mayor.
Kapata said although Chilatu claimed to have reformed after he withdrew from the NCC, there was no sign of change in his behaviour. She said Chilatu had become big-headed and needed to be taught a lesson.

And Kabulonga ward councillor Charles Msiska said he had earlier warned councillors that Chilatu was not the right person to lead the council. Msiska said other councillors thought he was against Chilatu when he fought for the same position.

“Chilatu has marginalised us. We should not entertain this behaviour, especially from a person who is supposed to lead by example. I told you at first but you couldn’t listen. Now I am vindicated,” Msiska said. “How can we allow ourselves to be led by a foolish mayor for all this period? Chilatu must confess. He is sitting on our intelligence.”
Msiska disclosed that Chilatu had also damaged the council vehicle which he was not supposed to drive in his personal capacity.

“I propose that Chilatu should stand down as mayor of Lusaka and the deputy mayor should perform mayoral duties until we choose another mayor,” said Msiska.
The meeting also revealed that on February 29, 2008, Chilatu in his own capacity had written to Hakuyu appointing him as acting town clerk for three months when in fact Hakuyu had been acting town clerk since 2006.

The meeting indicated that Chilatu had breached Statutory Instrument 115 with regard to the contract of town clerk.

The meeting also noted that Chilatu had gone against the council resolutions to handle management issues concerning line managers that were already passed by the council in December last year.

It was also disclosed that Chilatu renewed contracts of some council officials when local government minister Sylvia Masebo had advised councils countrywide that all line managers should not have their contracts automatically renewed until the establishment of the Local Government Service Commission.

This was in connection with another letter dated February 29, 2008 in which Chilatu renewed Hakuyu’s contract as director of city planning for six months with effect from February 1, 2008.

The councillors argued that Chilatu had no authority to renew contracts for council officials and declared the renewal as null and void.

The councillors said Chilatu further antagonised Hakuyu on Radio Phoenix and also appointed his friends to serve on the Local Government Association Committee.
UPND Kalingalinga ward councillor Dampson Chansa said Chilatu should not be forgiven because he had taken the councillors for granted. He said Chilatu should be dismissed immediately.

But Kabwata member of parliament Given Lubinda proposed that an adhoc committee be formed to investigate Chilatu before he was dismissed. Lubinda said although the evidence was overwhelming, there was need for the immediate suspension of Chilatu until investigations were completed.

Lubinda said PF would not entertain such unprofessional conduct because Zambians looked up to the party. Kanyama member of parliament Colonel Gerry Chanda seconded Lubinda’s proposal. He further said PF councillors should not be involved in the selection of a councillor to replace Chilatu at the NCC because the party was against the process.
When the decision to suspend Chilatu was reached, Phiri told the councillors to choose amongst themselves who should be in the committee to investigate Chilatu so that investigations could start.

The committee was later formed and it comprised seven councillors: Mwewa Musaiwale (PF), Jimmy Dons (UPND), Harry Hampende (UPND), Daniel Chisanga (PF), Damson Chansa (PF), Kapata and Col Chanda.

Meanwhile, Dons said Chilatu should not be given access to his office or be allowed to tamper with any council documents with effect from yesterday until investigations were completed.

Dons said Chilatu had committed a serious offence, saying he had no interest in serving the public but himself. He said the councillors would not allow Chilatu to tarnish the image of the council.