By A Correspondent- Top President Emmerson Mnangagwa personal advisor and Local Government Minister July Moyo has fired Harare mayor Jacob Mafume.
Moyo fired the MDC Alliance senior official from heading the Town House Friday.
He also has suspended him (Mafume) from being a councillor and withdrew his official benefits, including salary.
Minister July Moyo is accusing Mafume of gross misconduct and willful violation of the law.
In a letter addressed to Mafume seen by The Herald last night, Moyo said:
In terms of Section 114(2) and Section 114(1)(c) and (e) of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) as amended by the Local Government Laws Amendment Act number 8 of 2016, I hereby suspend you, Councillor Jacob Mafume with immediate effect from the office of councillor for Ward 17 Mount Pleasant, Harare City Council.
You were granted bail on the 8th of December 2020 with a number of conditions, one of which being not to interfere with any State witnesses.
It is alleged that contrary to the bail conditions set by the High Court, particularly the condition which states that you are not to interfere with any State witnesses, you proceeded to contact witnesses and arrange to meet them, being fully aware of them being state witnesses.
You were arrested on the 14th of December 2020 whilst you were in discussion with a key witness Edgar Dzehonye, contrary to the bail condition that stipulates that you not interfere with State witnesses.
The above allegations give reasonable grounds to suspend you for gross misconduct and willful violation of the law in terms of 114 (2) of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15] as amended by the Local Government Laws Amendment Act Number 8 of 2016 and as more fully appears in all above paragraphs and reference documents.
Moyo said Mafume is required to respond to the allegations within seven days of receiving the suspension notice.
During the suspension period, Mafume is barred from conducting any business for or on behalf of the council, within or outside council premises.
Mafume was suspended in December last year following his arrest on criminal abuse of office allegations relating to improper allocation of residential stands, charges that he denies.
-State Media