Bulawayo Ward 1 Councillor Josiah Mutangi Removed From Office After Misconduct Ruling

By Southerton Business Times Reporter | BULAWAYO

Bulawayo Ward 1 Councillor Josiah Mutangi of ZANU PF has been removed from office after an independent tribunal found him guilty of misconduct, creating a vacancy that will be filled through a by-election.

The decision was announced by Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe in a letter dated 14 July 2026, following the tribunal's determination after hearings held on 8 and 9 July.

"I wish to inform you that I am in receipt of a determination from the independent tribunal which was held on 8-9 July 2026. Councillor Josiah Mutangi was found guilty of misconduct, and by operation of the law, he is hereby removed from office," Garwe wrote.

Mutangi had been suspended from office on 28 May 2026 after his conviction on 14 counts of fraud earlier this year. A Bulawayo magistrate found Mutangi and his co-accused, Janet Zhou, guilty of defrauding 13 street vendors by falsely promising to allocate them vending bays in Bulawayo's central business district in exchange for money. The court ordered both accused to perform 490 hours of community service.

Mutangi was also ordered to pay US$200 in restitution to each of the 13 complainants. According to court findings, the allocations were made contrary to Bulawayo City Council procedures and existing regulations governing the allocation of vending bays.

In his decision, Garwe said the tribunal found that Mutangi had abused the public trust placed in him. The minister said the councillor had demonstrated "a recurring pattern of fraudulent behaviour" by exploiting his public office for personal benefit. The tribunal also found that Mutangi:

• Failed to follow established procedures for allocating vending bays.

• Failed to declare conflicts of interest.

• Breached the councillors' code of conduct.

• Acted contrary to the responsibilities expected of a public office bearer.

His removal takes immediate effect in terms of the applicable local government legislation.

Mutangi's removal creates a vacancy in Ward 1, requiring the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to conduct a by-election once the electoral process is proclaimed. The councillor was elected during the December 2023 by-elections, which followed the recall of several opposition councillors. He won the seat after defeating Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate Shepherd Sithole, polling 952 votes against Sithole's 655 votes.

The by-election followed the recall of Sithole and seven other CCC councillors by self-styled party secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu. While five recalled councillors regained their seats, ZANU PF captured three wards in Bulawayo, including Ward 1, which has a significant population of informal traders. Mutangi's removal means Bulawayo voters in Ward 1 will once again return to the polls to elect a new councillor.

Josiah Mutangi