Mbuso Siso: David Coltart Recall Zimbabwe Section 129(1)(k) Initiated

• CCC's Mbuso Siso initiated the recall of Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart and four other elected officials on October 7, 2026.
• The recalls, including three MPs and one Senator, were formally requested under Section 129(1)(k) of the Zimbabwe Constitution.
• David Coltart's recall is linked to his opposition to the Geo Pomona Waste Management contract in Bulawayo.
• The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency and the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe had also urged Bulawayo to engage with Geo Pomona.
• These actions are part of a broader series of recalls by Sengezo Tshabangu's group since October 2023, which has reduced the opposition's presence and benefited ZANU PF.

Lawyers advising political parties, elected officials, or entities engaging with Zimbabwean local authorities must monitor the ongoing interpretation and application of Section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution, as politically motivated recalls continue to destabilize local governance and parliamentary representation, potentially impacting contractual agreements and political risk assessments.

On October 7, 2026, a letter was dispatched by Mbuso Siso, identified as a member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. This communication, received by the Ministry two days later on October 9, formally notified Minister Daniel Garwe that David Coltart, who served as the councillor for Ward 4 and held the position of Bulawayo Mayor, had "ceased to be a member" of the CCC party. Siso's letter specifically requested the Minister to invoke Section 129(1)(k) of the Zimbabwean Constitution, a provision that mandates the declaration of a seat vacant when an elected official no longer belongs to the political party under whose banner they were initially elected. This action initiated the David Coltart recall Zimbabwe Section 129(1)(k) process for a prominent municipal leader.

Beyond the Bulawayo Mayor recall, the CCC also moved to remove several parliamentary representatives. In a separate correspondence addressed to Jacob Mudenda, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the party announced the recall of three Members of Parliament: Surrender Kapoikilu, representing Bulawayo Central; Corban Madzivanyika from Mbizo; and Togarepi Zivai Mhetu, who served Epworth North. Furthermore, a letter sent to Senate President Mabel Chinomona conveyed the party's decision to recall Ivumile Kucaca Phulu, the senator for Bulawayo Province. These Mbuso Siso CCC recalls represent a significant purge of elected officials from both local and national legislative bodies.

The recall of David Coltart, a key CCC member, is directly linked to his persistent disagreements with certain councillors regarding Bulawayo's waste management contract. At the heart of this dispute is Geo Pomona Waste Management, a company reportedly fronted by Dilesh Nguwaya, who is alleged to have connections to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s family. Geo Pomona has declared its intention to expand its operations across all Zimbabwean provinces, even in the absence of formal agreements with local authorities, positioning Bulawayo as its next target for expansion. Coltart actively resisted these plans, while a faction of councillors, perceived as compromised, advocated for the city to embrace the company's proposals.

Adding to the pressure on the City of Bulawayo to engage with Geo Pomona, both the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) have also urged cooperation. The Bulawayo Mayor recall is widely seen as a direct consequence of his refusal to align with these directives and the interests pushing for the Geo Pomona waste management Bulawayo dispute resolution in the company's favor. The application of Section 129(1)(k) of the Zimbabwe Constitution in this context highlights how internal party declarations can be leveraged to remove elected officials who challenge powerful interests or party lines.

These recent Zimbabwe parliamentary recalls are not isolated incidents but rather the latest in an ongoing series of expulsions. Since October 2023, Sengezo Tshabangu and his faction have been orchestrating these recalls, purportedly acting in the name of the CCC. This sustained campaign has systematically diminished the opposition's presence within both the national Parliament and local councils. The cumulative effect of these actions has been a noticeable shift in political power, largely benefiting the ruling ZANU PF party by weakening its primary political rival.

The continued application of Section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution in such a manner carries significant implications for democratic governance and political stability in Zimbabwe. Lawyers advising political parties, elected officials, or entities engaging with Zimbabwean local authorities must monitor the ongoing interpretation and application of Section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution, as politically motivated recalls continue to destabilize local governance and parliamentary representation, potentially impacting contractual agreements and political risk assessments.

Lawyers advising political parties, elected officials, or entities engaging with Zimbabwean local authorities must monitor the ongoing interpretation and application of Section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution, as politically motivated recalls continue to destabilize local governance and parliamentary representation, potentially impacting contractual agreements and political risk assessments.

Source: Original reporting on Zimbabwean political developments.