Harare sticks with Mushore

Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
Harare City Council is not looking for another town clerk and will stick with former NMB chief executive, Mr James Mushore, who is currently on an indefinite forced leave. The decision has created acrimony between the city and residents associations. The Harare Residents Trust accused the city fathers of not having the interests of residents at heart, saying Harare needed a substantive town clerk without undue delays.

“Egos must be set aside if progress is to be realised. The tragedy of Harare is that it is being led by people who believe that they have so much power and influence that they do not care about public concerns. They just want to win every argument. That is not how cities are run. Bulawayo has already completed its process of recruiting its new town clerk and in Harare, the Mayor and his special councillors are still to decide on a way forward,” said HRT in statement.

In April, Government rescinded the appointment of Mr Mushore soon after a council meeting that announced his appointment, saying council flouted procedures of appointing a town clerk as outlined in the Urban Councils Act and the Local Government Board.

According to the law in question, council was supposed to submit three candidates to the Local Government Board for approval. Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, told the city that Mr Mushore’s appointment was illegal, but council proceeded to give him the job.