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Minister Kasukuwere

Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter—
Government has warned former NMB chief executive Mr James Mushore and Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni against lawlessness and urged them to protect the decorum of Town House.This follows Mushore’s “suspension” of acting town clerk Mrs Josephine Ncube and his refusal to vacate Town House following a council resolution for him to leave.

Read more:

• Mushore torches storm at Town House
• Mushore vows to remain at Town House
• MDC-T councillors get cold feet on Mushore
• Mushore must respect the law: Kasukuwere
• Mushore sent on forced leave
• Govt sanctions Manyenyeni’s return
• Manyenyeni to bounce back
• Mushore vows to remain at Town House
• Court upholds mayor’s suspension
• Judgment reserved in Manyenyeni case
• MDC-T blocks city audit
• Manyenyeni goes to High Court
• Manyenyeni suspended

Mr Mushore, who was irregularly appointed Harare City Council town clerk in April before Government reversed the decision, last Wednesday brewed a shocker when he “suspended” Mrs Ncube for allegedly “usurping his powers”. The former banker also wrote to the acting Mayor Christopher Mbanga informing him that he had no mandate to suspend him.

Clr Manyenyeni

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere told The Herald Mr Mushore and Cllr Manyenyeni’s behaviour would not be tolerated. “The behaviour of both Cllr Manyenyeni and James Mushore is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Let us respect our laws and protect the decorum of our Town House. The lawlessness being exhibited by the two shows why Government has to take action and not allow desperate individuals to run very important public institutions like the city,” said Minister Kasukuwere.

“We will support council to restore service delivery and improved relations with the workers. We are focused on the above and would like to warn malcontents not to stretch our patience,” he said. Mr Mushore has refused to vacate Town House and has since written to Mr Mbanga to that effect.

In the letter, Mr Mushore questioned why Cllr Mbanga had taken time to write him since the special council meeting, which sent him on forced leave until determination of matters before the courts was done in May.

Mr Mushore

Mr Mbanga hit back: “I told him if you are town clerk as you purport to be, why didn’t you read the council resolution. I also told him that he was supposed to be in the chamber and why did he want me to write him when he is the custodian of council minutes as the town clerk?”

Mr Mbanga said he expected Mr Mushore to act on the council resolution. Government rescinded the appointment of Mr Mushore soon after a council meeting that announced his appointment, saying council flouted procedures for appointing a town clerk as outlined in the Urban Councils Act and in Local Government Board regulations.