Kasukuwere, Moyo are lying ‘comedians’ says Harare mayor
By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
Suspended Harare mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni has described Local Government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere and his counterpart, Jonathan Moyo as bluffing comedians misleading the world about happenings at Town House.
He was responding to a warning from Kasukuwere this week that he and James Mushore, the Town Clerk who has also been suspended for an alleged irregular appointment, must not tarnish the image of the capital’s local authority.
Kasukuwere was referring to Mushore’s recent letter of suspension to Acting Town Clerk, Josephine Ncube, on allegations that she was defying his orders.
“The behaviour of both Manyenyeni and James Mushore is unacceptable and will not be tolerated…The lawlessness being exhibited by the two shows why government has to take action and not allow desperate individuals to run very important public institutions like the city,” said Kasukuwere.
Moyo recently reinstated Manyenyeni after a month’s suspension over Mushore’s appointment but revoked his decision less than 24 hours later when he acted in Kasukuwere’s capacity.
“This is a smash and grab circus for comedians who are abusing our mandate at Town House and it’s there for the world to see. Both my suspensions are a big joke by the concerned entities,” Manyenyeni told Nehanda Radio.
He said, contrary to Moyo’s claim that he had failed to act against alleged impropriety at some business units under the Harare municipality, he had furnished the Local Government ministry with updates relating to the action he was taking.
An audit report from the Auditor General’s office unearthed irregularities within the units and recommended that a probe be done.
“There is enough documentary evidence to embarrass these government officials. I made the necessary communication to the ministry, advising it on what progress I had made regarding the audit and its recommendations.
“To my surprise, Moyo re-suspended me alleging that I had failed to respond to the Auditor General’s recommendations. They have the communication and are just grandstanding. Their actions are baseless,” he added.
Following his suspension by Moyo, Manyenyeni said, he further wrote to Kasukuwere “yet he is pretending as if he hasn’t seen my latest communication”.
“I have been in the financial sector for three decades and I know how finances are run. I never slipped in my work and always carried out audits on time. I am at the forefront of ensuring a sustainable financial culture at Town House,” said Manyenyeni.
The mayor hinted at souring relations with the Acting Mayor, Chris Mbanga.
Mbanga is his deputy but is currently in the eye of a storm amid accusations from Mushore that he was frustrating the town clerk’s return and must therefore be recalled by MDC-T which backed him upon his appointment.
MDC-T secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora, recently recommended Mbanga’s suspension.
Manyenyeni said he had not officially communicated with Mbanga but added that the acting mayor had indicated that his patience with the substantive mayor was running out.
Mushore was suspended on Kasukuwere’s insistence that council had not consulted a ministry board when it appointed him as required by the Urban Councils Act.
He has approached the courts for redress and his case is pending. Nehanda Radio
