Lawyer Sues Chombo Over Town Clerk Reinstatement 
Zhuwarara’s lawyer, Belinda Chinowawa of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights says Minister Chombo’s actions are objectionable
HARARE — Harare resident and human rights lawyer Tawanda Zhuwarara has taken Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo to court for his attempts to rescind Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni’s suspension of Town Clerk Tendai Mahachi. Zhuwara had given Chombo a one-day ultimatum to rescind his directive which he argues is unconstitutional. Mahachi was suspended last week by Manyenyeni for allegedly failing to properly discharge his duties after he allegedly refused to furnish council with the salary and benefits schedule of all Harare City Council senior managers. Efforts to get a comment from Chombo were futile as his phone went unanswered. Zhuwarara’s lawyer, Belinda Chinowawa of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said Minister Chombo’s actions are objectionable. Meanwhile, the Harare Residents Trust says it has unearthed a $15 million scandal at Harare town house involving Mahachi and Human Capital director Cainos Chimombe. The two are alleged to have authorised the severance packages of some workers who later came back to work for the council under unclear circumstances. Reached for comment, Mahachi refered all questions to council director of information Leslie Gwindi, who was no picking his mobile phone. Chimombe was said to be in a meeting. But Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba said they have gathered enough evidence against the two. A senior government officials says Harare is in need of $27 billion to realise the ambitious goals in its economic revival blue print- the Zimbabwe Agenda for Social and Economic Transformation (ZIMASSET). The acting director of for fiscal policy in the Ministry of Finance told business leaders that Harare needs the money to rebuild infrastructure such as roads, energy, water and sanitation. The government says it will turn to Zimbabweans in the diaspora and the BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia and South Africa to raise the capital. But economist Chris Mugaga director of Economita Global Capital said raising that money is bound to be problematic.