Political Squabbles Cripple Harare City Council As Town Clerk Defies Kasukuwere
Mushore vowed to report for duty and threatened legal action should anyone try to kick him out.
The chaos at Harare City Council is continuing with Town Clerk James Mushore on Monday defying an order by acting mayor Chris Mbanga to stop reporting for work. Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni was suspended by Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere for allegedly appointing Mushore unprocedurally. In response, Manyenyeni challenged the suspension in court and the high court is set to hear the matter on Tuesday. The matter though is seriously dividing the MDC-T controlled council, with councilors taking different sides in the matter. Mbanga told VOA Studio 7 that everything is under control though Mushore defied his order not to report to work. "He is reporting for duty although today (Monday) I called him into my office and tried to explain to him the motion that has been made by councilors that we ask town clerk Mushore to go on leave while the issue is being discussed in the courts," said Mbanga. Asked about Mushore's response, Mbanga said "he is adamant that he will stay put." Mushore in an exclusive interview with Studio 7 vowed to report for duty and threatened legal action should anyone try to kick him out. Said a defiant Mushore, "I continue to report for work and I will continue to report for work." Mushore added that no one has tried to interfere with him as being reported in newspapers. Mushore's critics said he is not physically fit to lead Harare as he resigned his position at NMB bank citing poor health. But Mushore told Studio 7 that he has been declared fit by his doctors. "My problem was with the eyes and subsequent to my leaving NMB (bank) I then had surgery on my right eye and I am very much up to the job." Simbarashe Moyo of the Combined Harare Residents’ Association, said residents are concerned by the infighting at the expense of service delivery and they will first give dialogue a chance. But should everything else fail, Moyo said they will embark on "street protests and mobilize residents to air out their grievances."