Acting Minister suspends Harare mayor and his deputy again
The acting Local Government and Public Works Minister Jenfan Muswere has suspended Harare mayor Jacob Mafume, his deputy Luckson Mukunguma and Clr Anthony Shingadeya as councillors for Ward 17, 25 and 11 respectively.
The three are facing corruption charges relating to the alleged parcelling of council land to their friends and relatives and lining their pockets from illicit land deals.
In a letter written by Muswere dated January 22 and addressed separately to the councillors, the three will not be paid during the period that they are under suspension. A letter written to Mafume read in part:
Pursuant to the findings of the Investigation Team in a Preliminary report dated 14 December 2020, in line with Section 114 (2) of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15] as amended by the Local Government Laws Amendment Act, Number 8 of 2016, I have reasonable grounds for suspecting that you, Councillor Jacob Mafume are guilty of misconduct as referenced in subsection (1)(b)(c) and (e) and hereby Suspend you, with immediate effect, from the office of Councillor for Ward 17, Mt Pleasant, Harare City Council in terms of Section 114 of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15), as amended by Section 3 of the Local Government Laws Amendment Act, Number 8 of 2016.
According to the suspension letter for Mafume, allegations are that he approached Harare council officials namely Mr Nhekairo, Dzehonye and Mrs Tendai Koke to allocate unserviced residential stands to Rotina Mafume and Ruvimbo Mafume in Westlea Township on layout plan TRF/WR/12/17 Westlea on March 2020 without following council allocation procedure. The letter further read:
You are required to respond to these allegations to the Minister’s office within seven days of receiving this notice in terms of Section 114(2)(2)(e) of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15] as amended by Section 3 of the Local Government Laws Amendment Act 8 of 2016.
During the period of the said suspension, you shall not conduct any business for or on behalf of Council, within or outside Council, premises, and you shall not be eligible to receive any form of remuneration.
About Post Author
