The 3393rd Bulawayo Council meeting kicked off with unexpected drama after some councillors slammed Mayor David Coltart for showing up in a coat instead of a full suit.

“I think it’s very important that we maintain the decor of this house. And you as the first citizen of this great city, you cannot be the person who breaks down the law of this house. There is no harm in you, Mr Mayor, in allowing your capable deputy to take over this meeting,” said one of the councillors.

Hon. Cllr Mahlangu backed the motion, but others like Hon. Cllr Irene and Cllr Bruce Mmeli Moyo called for calm, urging council to focus on service delivery.

“I feel ‘okokuqala’ (the first thing), the very purpose of this meeting… We have residents of Bulawayo who are looking at 29 voted councillors and 10 PR councillors who’ve spent 10 minutes talking about a suit and not about their needs,” said Cllr Bruce.

Outside council chambers, Cllr Mahlangu faced backlash on social media after Mayor Coltart shared a video of the debate.

“I never knew wearing a coat is an issue which affects our city,” said Andile Nkomo.

“We don’t care about this silly motion. We need substantive matters of the city addressed urgently even if it means His Worship David Coltart comes to chair the council meeting naked,” said Albert Mthokozisi Ndiweni.

Liberty Masuku added, “Such behavior shows the kind of person this guy (Cllr Mhlanga) is… if ever he is given a higher position he will definitely buy designer suits disregarding the needs of the people.”

Prominent journalist Zenzele Ndebele also weighed in:
“We need to decolonise our institutions. What’s special about wearing a suit? Do councillors make better arguments in a suit? Does service delivery improve when councillors are wearing suits?

If Bulawayo councillors were strict with service delivery the way they want to be strict with the dress code, the city would be far.”

As Bulawayo battles water shortages, poor waste management, and illegal vending, many residents feel council is missing the bigger picture.

In a quick My Kasi Magazine poll on the city’s best-dressed and most active councillor, Cllr Bruce Moyo was voted a favourite by many locals.