Own Correspondent

Suspended Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Tinashe Kambarami has won his court against Mthwakazi activists who wanted him kicked out of the council chambers.

Kambarami was removed as both a councillor and Deputy Mayor of the city after the 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement Trust approached the courts and accused him of hiding that he had a conviction that should have barred him from standing for council elections.

Speaking after the court, his lawyer Maqhawe Mpofu of Samp Mlaudzi and Partners said, “We have received the judgment from the court and we are satisfied that our client has been granted the justice that was due to him. We applaud the court for delivering a fair and just order which increases the public confidence on the justice system of our land.”

The organization had argued that on August 1, 2017, Kambarami stole an electrical cord from a Mr Washington Chirikuudzi who had engaged him to do some work at his offices.

Kambarami asked the complainant to leave his tools at his offices inside a safe before knocking off. When the complainant returned on the following morning, he discovered that his extension cord was missing. Kambarami admitted that he took it and promised to return it.

However, Kambarami did not return the cable despite pleas from the complainant.

Mr Chirikuudzi reported the matter to the police leading to Kambarami’s arrest.

Kambarami was elected Deputy Mayor in September 2018 after beating his closest rival, Clr Mlandu Ncube of Ward One.

Kambarami has been at loggerheads with Mthwakazi activists after he refused to take his oath of office in English demanding to use Shona.