Harare town clerk row turns nasty 

Source: Harare town clerk row turns nasty – DailyNews Live

Helen Kadirire     12 December 2017

HARARE – The Local Government Board (LGB) has refused to release the names
of its members as the fight to appoint a Harare town clerk explodes.

Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni has demanded to know who constitutes the
LGB, but the board has refused to provide the information, instead
directing his enquiries to the new Local Government minister July Moyo.

Harare has not had a town clerk since 2015 after the former incumbent
Tendai Mahachi resigned amid withering pressure from residents and
councillors.

“The LGB acknowledges receipt of your letter requesting the composition
and credentials of the LGB members. The LGB is appointed by the honourable
minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and as
such the letter should be addressed to the minister who is the appointing
authority,” read the letter from the LGB chairperson one S M Ngwenya.

Manyenyeni told the Daily News that the new Constitution has no provision
for a LGB.

He said that the LGB is just another ministerial tool used to secure the
appointment of politically acceptable executives in council.

“It seeks to perpetuate its illegal existence by being opaque and shadowy.
Which organisation in this day and age prides itself in its own
non-disclosure,” Manyenyeni said.

Efforts to seek comment from minister Moyo on the composition of the LGB
were futile as he was not answering his mobile.

Last year, council appointed former banker James Mushore to the town clerk
position but he was suspended by former Local Government minister Saviour
Kasukuwere who argued his appointment flouted laid down procedures.

Following his suspension, Mushore approached the Labour Court seeking
recourse, but the matter is yet to be determined.

If Mushore wins the Labour Court case, Harare City Council will be
compelled to pay him over $200 000 in backdated salaries.

In the most recent search for the city’s town clerk,  three candidates
namely Tapiwa Mashakada, Cainos Chingombe and Elizabeth Gwatipedza were
shortlisted in the city interviews.

Mashakada is the sitting MDC Member of Parliament for Hatfield, Chingombe
is Harare City Council’s human capital director while Gwatipenga is town
clerk of Gweru.