Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) Executive Council Chairperson, Ambrose Sibindi has relinquished his position after successfully filing his papers to contest in the December 9 by-election, the organisation has announced.
Sibindi is part of the five national assembly candidates whose papers were filed by Kucaca Phulu at the nomination court at Tredgold on Tuesday for Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) under the Sengezo Tshabangu faction.
He will be contesting for the Nketa Constituency seat against recalled MP Obert Manduna and Albert Mavhunga of Zanu-PF.
A statement released Wednesday stated that Sibindi’s need to contest as a political leader disallows him to continue representing residents or the executive council of BPRA.
“BPRA with solemnity announces that BPRA Executive Council Chairperson, Mr. Ambrose Sibindi has chosen to transition from his role in the Executive Council, in accordance with the stipulations outlined in the BPRA constitution 4.5.5. This follows the events that unfolded yesterday, 7 November 2023 where Nomination Court sat across the country ahead of the December 9, 2023 By-Elections,” the statement read.
“BPRA is a non-partisan organisation that seeks to alleviate the concerns of Bulawayo Residents therefore, leaders who represent these concerns should not by any means be associated with any political party in the country in a way that will witness their contest for political office. The need to contest as a political leader cannot be denied however, the need to affectionately represent residents through BPRA ward structures or the Executive Council will not be allowed to continue.”
The statement highlighted that according to the BPRA Constitution, no member of the Executive Council should hold a political post in any political party and if they are appointed as such after they have assumed duties as part of the Executive Council, such member shall automatically cease to be part of the Executive Council.
“As the institutional Constitution stipulates, Mr. Sibindi is with immediate effect no longer part of the Executive Council, and in that regard his role and responsibilities in the organisation as the former Executive Council Chairperson will be shifted to one next in leadership to stand as the Acting Executive Council Chairperson.”
