Persecution won’t break me! – Hre mayor

Walking tall … Harare maor Bernard Manyenyeni (in floral shirt) at the courts last week

He was speaking to NewZimbabwe.com a day after being released from police custody following his arrest on Wednesday on alleged abuse of office.

Manyenyeni was picked up by officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission moments after the Harare High Court had declared null and void, his suspension by Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

It was the second such suspension in a space of two months.

Following his latest release on the orders of the Harare magistrate’s court, the MDC-T official is now set to resume his duties at Town House this Monday.

Manyenyeni says his persecution was “naked and crude”.

“But my message to the perpetrators is that for every dirty tactic there are probably 2 or 3 more cleaner options,” he said.

“To be Harare mayor, I am serving a divine commission; a political deployment and a residents’ mandate. They have to destroy all three to break my spirit.”

Manyenyeni admitted being mayor for the capital was stressful due to relentless political interference.

“Harare city council is as big as 10 to 15 ministries,” he said.

“It is a pikinini government, hence the level of interest and interference. Bulawayo does not suffer this level of interference hence its stability and performance.

“By standard or original design it should be a cathedral of peace and unity – a unifying feature of the city – even country.”

The MDC-T, which controls the Harare City Council, has put up a strong fight against meddlesome local government Minister Kasukuwere who is under fire for usurping the powers of opposition run local authorities in violation of the country’s laws.

This has seen councillors being forced to choose between the powerful Zanu PF political commissar and their party.

Manyenyeni vowed that he would never be tempted to deviate from party directives at the behest of “our other friends in national affairs”.

“We should be motivated firstly by what is right for the city and the practical options to achieve that,” he said.

He added: “Recent events have badly affected a lot of things including staff morale. Any degree of uncertainty is unhealthy for any institution, its staff and stakeholders.”

Asked how he would handle the controversial appointment of Town Clerk James Mushore who is at the centre of the current dispute between the city council and the ministry, Manyenyeni denied he was personally responsible for the appointment of the former banker.

“James Mushore is not, and has never been, a mayor’s project. He is the product of an elaborate selection process.

“Contrary to standard remarks, he was appointed by council not by the mayor certainly not handpicked by me,” he said.