Kasukuwere suspends Harare mayor

By Tendai Kamhungira

Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere has suspended Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni over what he claims is the “illegal” appointment of new town clerk, James Mushore.

Mushore, a former NMBZ Holdings group chief executive officer, was fired the same day he was appointed last month, after Kasukuwere argued the appointment had not been approved by the Local Government Board.

Despite this decision, Manyenyeni went on to appoint Mushore, prompting Kasukuwere’s action yesterday.

“I wish to inform you that in terms of Section 114 (1) (d) (ii) of the Urban Councils Act that you are hereby suspended from carrying out the functions of the office of mayor and councillor,” reads part of the suspension letter seen by the Daily News.

The document further reads, “The grounds for your suspension are that you have, without legal basis, made an employment offer to a person for the position of town clerk without the necessary approval of the Local Government Board as required by the Urban Councils Act, as read with Section 265 (1) (b) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”

Recently, Combined Harare Residents Association and Chitungwiza Residents Association dragged Kasukuwere to court over his decision to rescind Mushore’s appointment.

And, yesterday, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai also held a press conference, threatening to take Kasukuwere to court over the same issue.

But in the letter of suspension, Kasukuwere argued that Manyenyeni acted unlawfully.

“You went further and defied a lawfully given instruction by implementing a resolution that had been rescinded in terms of the Urban Councils Act Section 314.

“You will be brought before a competent authority to answer the allegation above, in due course.

“During the period, you shall not receive any allowance and you shall not carry out any council business within or outside council,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Kasukuwere and the city council could not yield results yesterday. Daily News