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Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
At  least 130 people are vying for Harare’s town clerk position, which fell vacant three years ago when Dr Tendai Mahachi was retrenched.

The Local Government Board has so far declined two candidates — Mr James Mushore and Dr Tapiwa Mashakada — who were shortlisted from two separate recruitment exercises.

In March, the local authority readvertised the post.

Harare Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni confirmed the development yesterday saying he hoped that the city will attract the right candidate.

“It is a challenging high-profile position. Despite the well-known difficulty in getting accepted by the Local Government Board (LGB), it is encouraging that there is such resilience and interest in the position” he said.

Dr Mashakada

Clr Manyenyeni said council will still seek legal opinion to challenge LGB decisions.

“We are challenging the decisions of the Local Government Board before the Constitutional Court,” he said.

Two years ago, council appointed former banker Mr James Mushore to the position, but Government turned down his recruitment.

Mr Mushore has since approached the Labour Court for recourse and the matter was still to be determined.

Government argued his appointment was unprocedural and violated the Urban Councils Act.

The city then parted ways with Mr Mushore.

It owes him over $165 000 in salary arrears and benefits for just sitting at home.

Council then readvertised the post last year and attracted 140 aspirants.

Council then submitted three names to the LGB for consideration.

These were the city’s suspended human capital director Cainos Chingombe, MDC-T Hatfield legislator Tapiwa Mashakada and Gweru town clerk Elizabeth Gwatipedza.

The LGB again rejected the successful candidates.