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Blessings Chidakwa and Marytise Vambayi

Suspended Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, who is under investigation by an independent tribunal, yesterday attempted to chair a full council meeting, but failed since not enough councillors turned up to give him a quorum.

Initially, acting Mayor Musarurwa Mutizwa was supposed to chair the proceedings. But when Mafume indicated he was determined to turn up, most councillors snubbed him, as they have tended to do on the many occasions when he has attempted to exercise the office of mayor.

The meeting was supposed to start at noon, but Mafume entered the chamber almost an hour late flanked by acting town clerk Mabhena Moyo and acting chamber secretary Warren Chiwawa, and then announced the cancellation of the full council meeting.

“In light of the quorum we have to adjourn the meeting and liaise with the chamber secretary,” he said.

Speaking outside the council chambers, Mafume said his suspension ended a long time ago and he has been at work once the 45-day  suspension ended.

“I have been receiving my allowances. The suspension of a councillor is for 45 days. Once the days have ended, the councillor comes back to work and I have been at work.

“Any other processes in place are happening while I am at work. If the tribunal happens, it is happening while I am at work. If there are other issues that have to happen, they happen while I am at work.

“Just like every person, once your suspension days are over, you come back to work,” he said.

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo weeks ago set up an independent tribunal to probe Mafume, who is facing a raft of allegations, including gross misconduct, gross incompetence and wilful violation of the law.

According to the letter by the tribunal, Mafume was accused of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

“You were arrested for criminal abuse of office by a public officer as defined in Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and granted bail on 8 December 2020 with a number of conditions, one of which being ‘not to interfere with any State witnesses’.

“This then compromises your ability to execute your duties as the Mayor of Harare City Council, thereby disrupting smooth running of council operations.”

The letter further alleges that Mafume has on many occasions visited, accessed, interfaced and interacted with c officials within council offices and premises with the full knowledge that this would be in violation with his bail conditions with particular reference not to interfere with witnesses.

“This bail condition will cause an inability to perform your duties as Mayor of the council.”