High Court sets aside mayor’s suspension

Mathew Masinge

HIGH Court judge, Justice Joseph Mafusire, yesterday confirmed Jacob Mafume as the substantive Mayor of Harare.

Local Government and Public Worker Minister July Moyo had suspended Mafume on the basis that his party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, had notified his office of his dismissal.

Mafume, who would at times storm the mayoral office at Town House, went on to be suspended on four occasions.

He then approached court claiming his suspension was a nullity.

The judge ruled that Mafume should not be suspended on the same allegations.

“The decision of the Local Government Minister to suspend Mafume through a letter dated December 17, 2021 is a nullity and is hereby set aside.

“The Minister shall not suspend Mafume on the same or similar allegations as the ones in his letters of suspension dated December 23, 2020, 22, January, September 2021 and December 2021,” ruled the judge.