Retired Major Christopher Dube, the Town Clerk of the City of Bulawayo, has come under fire after allegedly threatening elected Councillors with arrest if they failed to reverse their decision to relocate cross-border bus operations to Egodini Mall, a council-owned property under construction. The threats, reportedly made on November 13, 2024, have sparked fears of intimidation and retaliation among Councillors, with some linking his actions to the subsequent arrest of Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu the very next day.
The high-stakes standoff began after Ward 2 Councillor Adrian Rendani proposed a motion to redirect buses from the former National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) train station—an area marred by crime and disrepair—to Egodini Mall, a site poised to benefit both residents and Council revenue. Despite Councillors voting in favor of Rendani’s motion, Dube, who reportedly supports the NRZ location, summoned about 12 Councillors to his office, where he allegedly issued grave threats.
One Councillor, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the tense encounter:
“We were summoned like schoolchildren to the Town Clerk’s office and threatened with arrest. He said if we fail to reverse the Railways resolution, we will face the music. He was barking like a headmaster, and we were terrified. All of us were terrified but only the Deputy Mayor asked why were they going to be arrested and the Town clerk responded by saying that what he was saying shall happen it’s not a threat but a promise.”
The Town Clerk reportedly linked his threats to two contentious issues: the NRZ resolution and the approval of a Chinese cement production facility by Lebanmon Investment Private Limited. According to those present, Dube explicitly warned that failure to reverse the NRZ decision would result in arrests.
Another Councillor echoed these concerns, claiming the threats left them shaken:
“Since I became a Councillor in 2023, I have never seen the Town Clerk so angry. He promised that what he said would happen, and the next day, the Deputy Mayor and Finance Chairperson were arrested. It’s terrifying.”
The situation took a darker turn with the arrest of Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu. Councillors claim the arrest was orchestrated as retaliation against Ndlovu, who, as Acting Mayor, recently read a letter stating that Dube’s contract extension had not been finalized by the Local Government Board.
One Councillor explained:
“Deputy Mayor Ndlovu chaired the General Purpose Committee meeting that extended Dube’s contract by two years. Now, Dube accuses him of betrayal for simply doing his official duty. This is nothing but vindictive retaliation.”
Councillors now fear Dube’s alleged grip on decision-making, describing an atmosphere of intimidation.
“As Councillors, we are now scared of the Town Clerk. We cannot make independent decisions. He wanted us to reverse the NRZ resolution without Ndlovu and Moyo, who he thought would influence us, but we make decisions independently,” said another Councillor.
Several Councillors declined to comment, suspecting the publication might be working on Dube’s behalf.
Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu, in his affidavit for bail, revealed that he was arrested at Mzilikazi Police Station after being sent there by the Town Clerk to meet with Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, who was also arrested. Ndlovu’s camp has decried the arrests as politically motivated, with one Councillor questioning the validity of Dube’s accusations regarding the Chinese company.
“The Chinese company received council approval in October. How could anyone ask for a bribe after that? This is a manufactured case. The Town Clerk is exploiting his connections to target us,” said the Councillor.
This explosive revelation adds fuel to growing tensions within Bulawayo’s municipal government. As Councillors grapple with allegations of intimidation and arrests, the spotlight is squarely on Christopher Dube. His purported attempts to bully the elected body have drawn sharp criticism, with observers questioning the integrity of the City’s governance.
The Councillors’ vote in favor of Egodini Mall was intended to boost investor confidence and improve public accessibility. However, Dube’s insistence on the NRZ station, coupled with the recent arrests, has cast a shadow over the Council’s ability to operate without interference.
