By A Correspondent- The Harare City Council has suspended a full council meeting after two MDC-Alliance councillors failed to understand each other over who to chair the meeting.

Full council meetings are held every Thursday and are chaired by the Mayor.

Mayor Jacob Mafume, who was on suspension and returned to work Monday and was supposed to chair the meeting, but acting Mayor Stewart Musarurwa Mutizwa refused to leave the office for him.

The refusal by Mutizwa to recognise Mafume resulted in the postponement the full council meeting

Harare City Council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme confirmed the postponement of the full council meeting citing other reasons. 

” The meeting was postponed to allow for more time for councillors to study and comprehend the full council minutes,” said Chideme.

However, a councillor who spoke to The Herald on condition of anonymity said the meeting had been aborted due to the mayoral chaos. 

“The meeting has been rescheduled for next week pending the finalisation of the mayoral issue as the councillors are divided on who will chair the meeting. Some are adamant that Mutizwa should chair while others prefer Mafume. It’s a catch 22 situation. We just hope by next week, there will be a clear position.

Mafume was suspended last year as a mayor and a councillor by Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo, pending his criminal charges trial outcome.

Acting Mayor Mutizwa was appointed following the arrest, recall and suspension of successive mayors, including Herbert Gomba and his deputy Enock Mupamawonde.

Their successors, Mafume and his deputy Luckson Mukunguma were also arrested and suspended.