Councillors accuse mayor’s family of abusing authority

travel to Chiredzi to play golf.

Infighting at Town House has taken a new twist with councillors accusing Mr Masunda and his family of abusing authority.
Councillors argue that Mrs Masunda was not supposed to travel to Chiredzi using a council vehicle for the golf tournament.

The mayoress travelled with two officials, a driver and an aide.
But her husband Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda, said the “issue raised pales into oblivion compared to what we have done for the community under the auspices of the Harare Mayor’s Cheer Fund, which is ably led by my wife and her team of 12 volunteers”.

MAYOR MUCHADEYI MASUNDA

The councillors feared identification because they allege Mr Masunda was too powerful and was trusted by MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.
They feared their political careers would be over if they publicly challenged Mr Masunda.
Mr Masunda, however, explained that his wife travelled to Chiredzi at the invitation of Nyaradzo chief executive officer, Mr Philip Mataranyika for the official opening of the Chiredzi Nyaradzo branch.

Mr Masunda did not travel to Chiredzi as he was in Japan on official council business.
“If it was not for my trip to Japan, I would have gone with her in the mayoral vehicle,” he said.
He said Nyaradzo was the main sponsor of the Harare Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund, while Mr Mataranyika was assisting the city “immeasurably” in running Rufaro Marketing as board chairman.

“The golf tournament was an integral part of the occasion. In the circumstances, we felt we had to support the Nyaradzo Group,” he said.
Mr Masunda and his councillors are fighting a bitter war in the re-organisation of the city’s standing committees with councillors accusing the mayor of dictatorial tendencies, while he argues he is better placed to judge the performance of the councillors.

Mr Masunda argues that some of the councillors have been passengers ever since they came into council and should therefore be placed in committees where their competencies can be better utilised.
He has also hinted he would investigate how his councillors, some of whom joined council wearing slippers, are now driving in sleek vehicles and living lavishly.
He alleges some of the councillors are taking bribes to influence tender awards.

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