Harare mayor Jacob Mafume’s stance against corrupt city officials is backfiring as the underfire top executives are ganging up against him,this publication can reveal.
The mayor who on Tuesday and Wednesday was pressured by the Commission to admit some of the illegal dealings at the Town House,is a victim of a well-orchestrated move to discredit him by Town Clerk Chisango and former Housing director Marara in connivance with some members of the commission.This is according to some inside sources at the beleagured municipality.
The source says his bold move to block the reinstatement of Chisango has not gone well with the cabal.
“One of his major undoing was his resistance to allow Chisango back to work after his controversial acquittals which have also caught the attention of ZACC.
“Its sickening that Mayor Mafume is demanding accountability which the Commission was also set up for but he is now being victimised,”said the source who requested anonymity.
Another source claimed that a named commissioner called a top council official pleading with him to have Chisango reinstated.
Commenting on the inspection in loco at Mafume’s residence,the source said it was quite suspicious why the Mayor was picked while former housing director Marara who bounced back in controversial circumstances never got one.
“Its quite telling that the Mayor is being set up here.Marara has been implicated in a number of corrupt scandals but not even an inspection in loco was done at his residence this just gives a picture of favouritism mearnt to soil Mafume’s image,”added the source.
This publication was made aware of reports of Chisango bribing the commission’s secretary with residential stands in Westlea.
Reports are filtering in that Town Clerk Chisango is on the run after fleeing ZACC investigators.
Meanwhile,the tiff between NPA and ZACC has raised eyebrows on the handling of the court case involving top Harare city officials.The NPA withdrew charges against Chisango (Town Clerk), Never Murerwa Supply Chain Manager), Denford Zhungu (Principal Accountant), Tawanda Mutenhabundo (Engineering Technician), and Artkins Mandaza (Principal Contracts Administrator) over a US$9 million street lights tender.However,the anti-corruption body,ZACC,has stated it will go on to prefer new charges on these accused persons despite their acquittal.