Following the recalling of 11 more Councillors on Monday, the Harare City Council (HCC) has been left almost dysfunctional.

The recalls leave HCC with just 25 functioning councillors following the recall of the 11, including the deputy mayor.

This takes the number of vacancies to 21, a development that may trigger the temporary appointment of commissioners until by-elections are held.

While a council meeting requires just 17 councillors present to form a quorum, much of the work of the council is done in committees and depending on the distribution of the vacancies, there may be several suburbs without representation until by-elections are held.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is hoping the Covid-19 pandemic will be sufficiently reduced, or other health measures can be put in place, to allow Parliamentary and council by-elections by December.

Normally, outside a public health emergency, these would take place in a matter of weeks after the vacancies.

Under the Urban Councils Act the Minister of Local Government and Public Works can appoint one or more commissioners for a maximum of six months, or until the vacancies are filled in a by-election, when “there are no councillors for a council area or all the councillors for a council area have been suspended or imprisoned or are otherwise unable to exercise all or some of their functions as councillors.”

Where there are some councillors still available to exercise some of their functions, any commission must consult these councillors before making any decisions.

Councillors recalled on Monday include: Lovemore Makuwerere, Gilbert Hadebe, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, Simon Mapanzure, Charles Chidhagu, Keith Charumbira, Steven Dhliwayo, Barnabas Ndira, Chihoma Runyowa, Charles Nyatsuro and Enoch Mupamawonde.