MDC-T parliamentarians on Tuesday piled pressure on the party’s Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni to stamp his authority at Town House or to step out of the kitchen if “it is too hot for him”.
BY MOSES MATENGA STAFF REPORTER
Citing several instances where the mayor’s decisions have either been ignored or overruled by council management, MDC-T shadow local government minister and Gweru Central MP Sesel Zvidzai asked: “Isn’t it fair for you to resign in the face of this?” to which Manyenyeni said he would soldier on than give in.
Warren Park MP Elias Mudzuri (MDC-T) said as chairperson of Harare Metropolitan Province, Manyenyeni had the power to reverse decisions made by town clerk Tendai Mahachi and his management team.
Asked why the mayor had told Parliament that he had a good working relationship with Mahachi whom he tried and failed to suspend two months ago, Manyenyeni became evasive saying their fallout was on professional grounds and not personal.
In February, Manyenyeni suspended Mahachi over charges of insubordination, but Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo immediately intervened and rescinded the decision.
Mudzuri accused Manyenyeni of lying to Parliament that he had cordial working relations with Mahachi and challenged him to read documents pertaining to the rescission of the Kurasha Report used to set salaries for management at Town House.
“The Kurasha thing was rescinded by this 2008 resolution, are you getting advice and are you going through all these resolutions? The town clerk gave you a schedule on March 28, so why tell us that you are working well and not quarrelling?” Mudzuri queried.
