Mafume’s arrest designed to pave way for Mukunguma

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Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume was arrested for alleged criminal abuse of office after he had reportedly parcelled out council stands to his sister.

His arrest has triggered varying opinion with some, especially those aligned to the opposition MDC Alliance, saying it was politically motivated.

Following his arrest, his deputy, Councillor Luckson Mukunguma was elevated to the post of Mayor. Ironically, he had been arrested on 16 December but is already back in the office.

Speaking on the matter, Jealousy Mawarire, the spokesperson for the National Patriotic Front suggested that Mafume’s arrest was a strategy to clear the path for Mukunguma’s elevation. He said:

I thot Harare Deputy Mayor, Luckson Mukunguma was arrested last week, how come he is Acting Mayor? So the arrest of Harare Mayor @JMafume is meant to elevate Mukunguma to the post of Mayor which he lost to Mafume @PoliceZimbabwe & the judiciary in Zim are being abused by Junta-PF
He was arrested last week on allegations of fraud, how come he is not in remand prison like others?

Mukunguma was arrested on 16 December for alleged criminal abuse of office. On the 17th of December, he was already back in office reinstating some of the council officials whose cases are still pending.

This is happening when the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has issued a directive which notes that council employees facing criminal charges should not report for duty until their cases are finalised at the courts.

Mukunguma, a local businessman who is also the chairperson of the council’s finance committee, is a member of the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe.

He contested to replace ousted Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba but lost to MDC Alliance representative, Jacob Mafume, after securing 14 votes while Mafume garnered 19.

–Jealousy Mawarire Twitter