Tuesday 7 October 2025
Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube | Zim GBC News Editor
Bulawayo – Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube is seeking to extend his term of office until he reaches the age of 70, leveraging a new government policy that allows senior local authority officials to serve for five additional years beyond the previous retirement age.
In a confidential letter dated September 30, 2025, addressed to the Mayor and Councillors and seen by Zim GBC News, Dube requested the Council to rescind its 2024 resolution on his contract extension, arguing it had been overtaken by new regulations.
The council had previously extended Dube’s contract through two phases: first from October 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025, and then from December 1, 2025, to November 30, 2026, with provisions for retirement review at age 65. However, Statutory Instrument 198 of 2024 from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has since raised the retirement age for local authority chief executive officers from 65 to 70.
“In regard to the policy changes mentioned above, namely, the lifting of term limits for Heads of Local Authorities and extension of late retirement age of Local Authorities employees, I therefore submit my recommendations that the council resolution on the extension of my contract of employment by two years be rescinded,” Dube wrote.
He emphasized that his employment should now continue “in line with the change of policies mentioned above in the report.”
Dube explained his unusual decision to bypass committee structures and approach the council directly, citing procedural delays that threatened to leave the matter unresolved before his contract expiry.
“I wish to clearly make a declaration that I was left with no choice but to bring my report straight to Council,” Dube stated.
“The compelling reason being, following the postponement of the General Purposes Committee that partly dealt with my matter on September 22, 2025.”
He detailed how the Special General Purposes Committee had failed to convene on both September 29 and 30 due to lack of quorum, adding:
“I am now afraid that my matter may end up out of time because we are now two months away from the expiry of my contract.”
Dube assumed the position of Bulawayo Town Clerk in October 2016, succeeding the late Middleton Nyoni. His initial four-year contract was extended in 2020 before its scheduled expiration, with further extensions granted in February 2024. Prior to his Bulawayo appointment, Dube served as Town Clerk for Victoria Falls Municipality.
The council is expected to deliberate on Dube’s request in the coming weeks.
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