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NewsDay

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Mbanga elected Harare deputy mayor

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THE MDC-T-dominated Harare City Council was yesterday kowtowed into electing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s preffered candidate, Ward 8 councillor Chris Mbanga, as the city’s deputy mayor.

THE MDC-T-dominated Harare City Council was yesterday kowtowed into electing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s preffered candidate, Ward 8 councillor Chris Mbanga, as the city’s deputy mayor.

BY MOSES MATENGA

As previously reported in yesterday’s issue of NewsDay, Mbanga was handpicked by Tsvangirai and yesterday’s election appeared more like a formality as he garnered 30 votes against Rai Gwenambira of Zanu PF who got a paltry five votes.

Speaking in hushed tones, some disgruntled MDC-T councillors said they had been whipped into endorsing Mbanga’s candidature against their wishes.

Mbanga’s close working relationship with Tsvangirai can be traced back to the March 2008 harmonised elections where he was Tsvangirai’s chief election agent.

He was later appointed chief of staff at the MDC-T’s Harvest House headquarters before he was relieved of his duties in 2010.

In his acceptance speech after yesterday’s election, Mbanga thanked Tsvangirai and pledged to work hard to improve service delivery in the capital.

“I wish to thank the leadership of my party, from the president Dr Tsvangirai, standing committee members to the national council for the confidence and trust they have bestowed in me.”

He said the welfare of council workers and councillors remained high on the list of his priorities of engagement. “Our employees, too, need to be paid on time for them to put an honest day’s work,” he said.

Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni said it would be a pleasure working with Mbanga, whom he described as having a wealth of experience as a politician and businessman.

The seat fell vacant after the death of deputy mayor Thomas Muzuva, who succumbed to cancer last month. Muzuva was buried in Hwedza last weekend.