The dreaded Joint Operation Command JOC is holding secret meetings at the Town House without consulting the Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni who is also barred from attending the meetings.
JOC which comprises the dreaded CIO, officials from the Zimbabwe Military Intelligence ZMI, Prison Services and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, spies on organizations which the ZANU(PF) government suspects of pushing for its removal.
The Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni told residents in Harare at a meeting which was arranged by a local resident’s pressure group the Combined Harare Residents Association on Wednesday that he was no longer safe at the Town House.
“The Joint Operation Committee (JOC) has been and comes to the Town House once a month or so (and carry out random meetings without protocol). As Mayor I do not know what they will be discussing about. I have nothing about JOC; they are a state organ, they have a duty to function in areas where they have an interest in.
“I have asked to join in one of the meetings and hear their outcomes. I do not think they are discussing anything malicious but in order to enhance trust, as the leader of the council I would need to hear what they are discussing,” Manyenyeni said.
The meeting was held under the topic “Who is in Charge at Town House, Understanding the Politics of Social Service Delivery in Harare” and was also attended by Constitutional Lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku, former Harare Mayor Engineer Elias Mudzuri and former Chitungwiza Chamber Secretary Mrs Last Madzivanyika.
The convergence was motivated by recent pronouncements by Harare Mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni that residents do not understand the role and powers of the mayor and hence place service delivery and performance expectations that are beyond his role and powers.