Councillors for Zomba City threatens to sue Ministry of Local Government over Mayor elections

Councillors in Zomba City have threatened to drag the Ministry of Local Government and Zomba City Council to court if they maintain their suggestions that the city will not conduct polls to elect a new Mayor.

The Ministry of Local Government will hold mayoral election in three City Councils, Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu on January 9 2016 following the expiry of 2 and half years of the current mayors.

In a statement from the Ministry of Local Government signed by its Spokesperson Muhlabase Mughogho seen by faceofMalawi reporter, in Zomba the elections will not be conducted due to the fact that the current mayor has not stayed on the position for 2 and half years as required by laws.

But the move has angered some councilors in the district, saying the Ministry together with Zomba City Councils is in breach of what was agreed in September during the election of the current Mayor Melia Likoswe Douglas who replaced Joana Ntaja who died of Malaria.

According to the councilors, during the elections they agreed that Douglas will just finish the term of Ntaja and the elections will be held to elect new Mayor.

The councilors are accusing the current Mayor of bribing City Council officials and the Ministry of Local government.

The Councillors led by Deputy Mayor of Zomba City have asked the Council and the Ministry to reverse the decision or risk being sued.