Kasukuwere fires Harare MDC-T Mayor

Suspended … Harare mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni

Manyenyeni confirmed receiving a suspension notice from Kasukuwere who accuses him of “disobedience and insubordination”.

“Just to let you know that I have received a letter from the minister (Kasukuwere) that I am suspended both as councilor and mayor with immediate effect,” Manyenyeni said.

Earlier in the day, MDC-T President, Morgan Tsvangirai, told journalists Kasukuwere had threatened to dissolve the elected Harare Council and replace it with his Commission.

Analyst and civil rights activist, Dr. Pedzisayi Ruhanya, told NewZimbabwe.com that the mayor was elected by the people and what the minister had done was subversion of electoral democracy.

“Kasukuwere is not the people and he is abusing voters in Harare. In a constitutional democracy, the will of the people is supreme and sacrosanct,” said Ruhanya.

Ruhanya said Kasukuwere cannot seek to gain authority at Town House through the back door and unlawful means.

“We are not surprised by his actions because they are a reflection of Zanu PF’s contempt for electoral democracy and the rule of law.

“If Zanu PF and Kasukuwere want to win in Harare and in Zimbabwe they must address the deepening socio-economic crisis that they manufactured through their bad governance and authoritarian practices,” said Ruhanya.

He added: “Kasukuwere could be a hero if he assisted the people of Harare to democratically remove the 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe who is no longer fit for purpose and continues to preside over the corruption and decomposition of the political economy of the State.”

Kasukuwere has, in the recent past, tried to remove constitutionally elected councilors in all cities and towns who belong to opposition parties but his actions have always hit a snag with Courts reversing his decisions.

His predecessor, Ignatius Chombo, routinely harassed opposition councillors, hounding mayors, including former Harare mayor, Elias Mudzuri, out of office.

The state media reported Thursday that Kasuuwere was headed to Bulawayo where he accusses councilors of refusing to distribute land to 20 000 youths according to his instructions. He was quoted saying Bulawayo mayor, Martin Moyo, was not “serious” about residents’ housing needs.