HARARE councillor for Ward 14 in Kambuzuma, Thomas Muzuva, has been elected deputy mayor for Harare.
REPORT BY STAFF REPORTER
Muzuva, who is the outgoing business committee chairperson, was nominated for the post together with Glen Norah councillor Herbert Gomba before they went for interviews at the MDC-T headquarters yesterday.
“It’s a pleasure to get such a high position and our task is to provide service delivery for the people of Harare,” said an elated Muzuva.
The MDC-T leadership is, however, yet to decide on the mayor’s position amid indications that the party’s deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma, spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora and Harare spokesperson Obert Gutu were in the race.
Women Assembly chairperson Theresa Makone yesterday said she was not keen for the post.
“I am not interested in that post, I have never been. I don’t know where people got it that I am interested in that post,” said Makone.
Mwonzora and Gutu declined to comment saying the party would decide on whom to second to Town House.
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“The decision is going to lie with the leadership of the party. Our names were proposed and the decision is not mine, but the president of the party and leadership of the party as well as the supporters,” said Mwonzora.
Gutu said: “I can’t comment on that, we will wait for the party to make a decision.”
According to the new Constitution, the mayors of Harare and Bulawayo metropolitan provinces would become chairpersons of the metropolitan councils while the mayors from the second largest city within the province becomes deputy chairpersons.
This means the Chitungwiza mayor becomes deputy to Harare mayor.
The MDC-T has lined up former minister Fidelis Mhashu, outgoing mayor Philemon Chipiyo, Fortune Mangwiro, a businessman, and Isaac Manyemba for the Chitungwiza post.
“The position of mayor is not mayor in the actual sense of the word, but is like a governor of a province. We want to defend the interests of the party in the whole of Harare and we need someone who is up to the task in the next five years. So these people (councillors) do not understand what they say when they argue that the lining up of party bigwigs was motivated by greed,” said a senior MDC-T insider.
