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Councillors fight mayor over Israel trip

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HARARE residents and some councillors have banded together in support of mayor Bernard Manyenyeni for reducing the number of delegates scheduled for a business trip to Israel next week.

HARARE residents and some councillors have banded together in support of mayor Bernard Manyenyeni for reducing the number of delegates scheduled for a business trip to Israel next week.

STAFF REPORTER

This comes as some councillors have been pushing for Manyenyeni’s ouster, accusing him of handpicking those scheduled for the trip based on MDC-T faction lines.

The mayor became unpopular with some councillors after he reduced the number of officials for the trip from seven to four and there have been attempts to pass a vote no confidence against him.

The Combined Harare Residents’ Association (CHRA) condemned the councillors.

“We condemn in the strongest of terms leaders who prioritise financial gain ahead of service delivery,” CHRA said in a statement.

“Such councillors do not deserve to be at Town House.

“We support the mayor in calling for the reduction of business delegations to save ratepayers’ money.”

Rugare councillor Peter Moyo said no one would be allowed to pass a vote of no confidence on the mayor as he was just doing his job. “There is a lot of talking that goes on, but there is no factionalism in council,” he said.

“Other councillors are new and do not know how council operates, we can’t then call those differences factionalism.

“When one person is to be chosen for a trip, those that are left out are disgruntled and that is the case here. It is the prerogative of the mayor to choose people he feels can ably represent the city well.”

Manyenyeni last weekend pleaded with councillors and residents to support his cost-cutting measures so that the money could be channelled towards service delivery.