The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporters
HARARE mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni could soon be suspended for flouting council regulations after appointing Mr James Mushore as town clerk without seeking approval from the Local Government Board.
And the mayor cannot even count on support from MDC-T as sources say his superiors already want him recalled for “failing to represent party interests”.
A faction within MDC-T, we understand, has lined up a female councillor (name supplied) as his replacement.
Government rescinded Mr Mushore’s appointment as town clerk and issued a directive to that effect, but Cllr Manyenyeni allowed the former banker to report for duty.
The local authority was supposed to — but did not — submit a list of candidates to the Local Government Board in line with the Urban Councils Act Chapter (29:15) before the appointing a new town clerk.
A prospective town clerk should have at least four years post-qualification local governance experience in middle or senior administration amongst other requirements.
A senior official at the Local Government Ministry said: “There have been concerns on why (the mayor) is defying Government directives. If he (Mr Mushore) continues to report for duty, action will have to be taken against the council and this means having the mayor suspended.
“The question is why are they not waiting for the Local Government Board approval? Why are they so eager to have him assume duty without following procedure?”
According to section 54 of Urban Councils Act Chapter (29:15), the Local Government Minister can suspend a mayor in certain circumstances. Cllr Manyenyeni recently received a letter from the Local Government Board nullifying Mr Mushore‘s appointment.
“If your office insists on violating the law, which is clearly provided for the individual involved, it shall be liable and accountable both in their official and personal capacities,” the letter read.
At the same time, some MDC-T councillors officials and officials want the mayor recalled for their own reasons.
Sources told this paper that pressure has been mounting on Cllr Manyenyeni since 2015 when a citywide clean-up relocated illegal vendors to official markets.
Cllr Manyenyeni sided with central Government’s development plans to clean up the city and improve service delivery.
This saw some councillors claim the mayor was working with the ruling Zanu-PF and Cllr Manyenyeni said he was aware of the plot to oust him.
“My political masters are happy with what I am doing. I have no doubt that I am a good ambassador for the party,” he said. “At the same time, I am also aware that some people are unhappy with what I am doing. It should be know, however, that most people who complain about my leadership do not know how a city is run.”
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu tried to downplay the matter.
“There is nothing like that. Our councillors and the Mayor are very united . . . I can assure you that the Mayor is representing the interests of the party and our leader is very happy with him.”
On condition of anonymity, a councillor said party leaders felt the mayor was failing them and his fate was being discussed.
“Manyenyeni has failed and must resign or be removed with immediate effect. Some have been throwing around the name of former Harare Mayor Engineer Elias Mudzuri as a possible replacement.
“However, the stronger view has been that one of the councillors should take over and represent party interests and restore sanity in the city.”
Another added, “I’m sure you’re aware that not much is being realised from local subscriptions, and most of the party’s funding is now coming from our structures in Britain. They are the ones calling the shots and have expressed reservations about Manyenyeni.
“Most officials and councillors are of the view that he is presiding over chaos. He is also being accused of recruiting his relative to the post of finance director (and) ignoring other councillors. Furthermore, he is accused of violating local government regulations and fastracking the appointment of a town clerk.”
Harare-based political analyst Mr Alex Rusero said class differences in MDC-T were behind the divisions.
“It appears the mayor is elitist vis-a-vis most of the councillors, and his cordial working relationship with Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere is also a major source of consternation.
“Many MDC-T councillors were accustomed to hostile relations between the mayor and minister, but there appears to be a very good working relationship between Cllr Manyenyeni and Minister Kasukuwere.”
