HARARE residents will have to wait for a new government to get a substantive town clerk as the commission appointed to oversee council operations has no mandate to employ top council executives.
By XOLISANI NCUBE
The former council, led by ex-mayor Bernard Manyenyeni, had shortlisted acting town clerk, Hosiah Chisango, former Zimbabwe Revenue Authority finance director Robert Mangwiro and Eugine Makaya from the University of Zimbabwe, for the position.
The list was waiting approval from the Local Government Board, but the absence of elected city fathers was stalling the whole process.
According to sources, the Local Government Board has so far completed the vetting exercise and carried out initial interviews and recommendations have been forwarded to the Local Government ministry for ratification.
“The Local Government Board is almost through, but we will wait until we have a council elected by the people to have a substantive town clerk. The issue is on who will employ because the caretaker commission has no mandate to employ, but to assist with the current management in implementation of resolutions,” a source in the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing ministry said.
Local Government minister July Moyo was said to be in a meeting, while his ministry’s permanent secretary, George Magosvongwe was reportedly out of office.
But sources said Chisango was leading the pack due to “his experience and his understanding of the challenges council was facing”.
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“He has an upper hand compared to other candidates. But all what is left is the final approval and a contract drafted by council which ought to be represented by a mayor,” an official said.
Chisango scored 1 052 points during interviews, while Mangwiro managed 903 points and Makaya got 852 points to be shortlisted.
Although the outgoing council had approved the three, it noted that Mangwiro had past issues that arose after interviews and some councillors advocated that he be disqualified, but Manyenyeni opted otherwise, saying the Local Government Board would make its independent decision.
Harare has been operating without a town clerk for over 30 months owing to various reasons.
The post fell vacant in 2014 after Tendai Mahachi’s retirement.
