Bulawayo Town Clerk, Christopher Dube, Seeks To Extend Term To Age 70

Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube is seeking to extend his term of office until he reaches the age of 70, following a new government policy that allows senior officials to serve until that age.

Dube wrote to the mayor and councillors, asking the council to rescind its 2024 resolution on his contract extension.

In a confidential letter seen by CITE, dated 30 September 2025, Dube noted that in February 2024, the council had extended his contract by two years, first from 1 October 2024 to 30 November 2025, and then from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2026, with a provision to review his retirement at age 65.

However, under Statutory Instrument 198 of 2024, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works raised the retirement age for Chief Executive Officers of local authorities from 65 to 70.

It is on this basis that Dube is now seeking to continue in office until he reaches the new retirement age. Dube wrote:

“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submit my recommendations that the council resolution on the extension of my contract of employment by two years be rescinded as it has been overtaken by the change of policies, and my employment be continued in line with the change of policies mentioned above in the report.”

Dube said he decided to write the letter to speed up the process, citing the council committee’s failure to discuss the matter on time. He said:

“I wish to clearly make a declaration that I was left with no choice but to bring my report straight to Council.

“The compelling reason being, following the postponement of the General Purposes Committee that partly dealt with my matter on September 22, 2025.

“The Special General Purposes Committee has twice failed to sit, on Monday, 29 and Tuesday, 30 September 2025, because of lack of a quorum.

“I understand very well that matters should be dealt with at Committee level and then recommended to Council for decisions.

“However, 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 office as Bulawayo Town Clerk in October 2016, succeeding the late Middleton Nyoni.

His initial four-year contract was due to expire in September 2020, but councillors agreed to extend it before that date.

In February 2024, the council further resolved to extend his term for an additional two years.

Prior to his appointment in Bulawayo, Dube served as Town Clerk at the Victoria Falls Municipality.