Harare City saga rages as suspended town clerk orders replacement out

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

The saga at the Harare municipality continues to rage, with suspended Town Clerk, James Mushore ordering Josephine Ncube who was acting in his place to vacate office for alleged insubordination.

Mushore was recently appointed town clerk to replace Tendai Mahachi but government overruled the appointment, insisting that he was not approved by the relevant board.

He has since approached the courts for reprieve and his case is still pending.

However, the former NMB chief executive officer who is receiving support from MDC-T that dominates council yesterday pulled a surprise and wrote to Ncube, advising her that she had been suspended.

“It is true I have suspended Mrs Ncube for misconduct. She has continued to act as town clerk. She ceased to be acting town clerk on April 1, when I joined council. She has been insubordinate,” said Mushore.

Acting Mayor, Chris Mbanga, said he had not seen the suspension letter even though he admitted that Ncube had told him about it.

Mbanga was riled by Mushore’s reported suspension of Ncube and accused him of causing unnecessary confusion at Town House.

“I wrote to Mr Mushore asking him to take leave until the issues in the courts are resolved. Of late he is causing unnecessary disturbances and interruptions to management.

“I view this with great concern. As councillors, our primary duty is to ensure that service delivery is given to residents without undue interference,” said Mbanga, an MDC-T horse who is, however, seen to be breaking ranks with the party that sponsored his appointment as deputy mayor.

The unfolding drama at the capital’s local authority recently saw suspended mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni, being reinstalled and sent packing again within 24 hours after resuming duty.

He was ordered out by Local Government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, about a month ago and when he returned to work on Monday, Jonathan Moyo, standing in for his counterpart, suspended him again for failing to probe corruption at units under the local authority.

A full council meeting scheduled for Tuesday failed to take place after most MDC-T councillors boycotted the meeting in protest over the mayor’s suspension.

The main opposition, MDC-T, this week alleged that the ruling Zanu PF government was victimising senior officials at Town House as a strategy to win the next general election in 2018.

The party said Zanu PF was plotting to put its own people in influential position so as to grab land with which to buy votes at poll time. Nehanda Radio