Tinashe Sambiri|Former Harare city Mayor, Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of using cheap political gambits to thwart meaningful development in the capital city.
Mnangagwa is obsessed with removing MDC Alliance mayors and leaders from local authorities, according to Manyenyeni.
See Manyenyeni’s presentation below:
By Ben Manyenyeni
(I do have a visible hangover from my past station in a high profile civic office – no apology – I am possibly still noisier than a few serving mayors!)
That public station itself remains so badly understood, heavily politicised and its ingredients unknown.
In the past 5 days I have posted two Facebook notes in response to a barrage of unhelpful attacks on the MDCA-held urban local authorities by the Head of State – simultaneously with murderous onslaught from the State TV station.
I am a card-carrying member of the MDCA but all the views shared on public platforms are entirely my own – with neither consultation nor approval from my political masters.
My first post bemoaned the President’s intense personal fixation with toxic partisan politics – to an extent he fails to realise that local government is part of his very own government.
The pressure on Mr Mnangagwa to be a LEADER FIRST – a politician later – continues to mount.
It is not difficult to do and has amazing results.
As an example, in my own 5 years at “Trauma Centre” (trading as Town House, Harare), President Mnangagwa must be shocked to know that in that entire stretch I did not have ONE fight with the 10 or so ZanuPF councillors in the house of 46.
This was despite me having bitter fights with (their) Ministers of Local Government at the same time.
I also led the 32 mayors and chairpersons of urban councils in the country part of my 5 years.
I only had just ONE confrontation with ZanuPF mayors – only because the then Minister of Roads and Infrastructure had broken the law in the appointment of the ZINARA Board of Directors – (the parastatals that has looted Harare’s 6000km of roads – since 2009!).
As we speak our cohort of the 2013 to 2018 Mayors remains in one intact fraternity – one big happy family – still chatting DAILY on our chat group, totems yes, parties NO!!!
So I can proudly boast of coming from a credible background of how it can easily be done.
A copy of my mayoral acceptance speech on 16th September 2013 may also be a free resource for Cde@Zim One.
My follow-on post two days ago dealt with sharing insights of who effectively controls Harare City Council and also who destroyed Harare.
This is my third post directed at the State President’s assault on MDCA municipalities.
All this one does is share, publicly, with the man at State House the need for him to be a unifying brand not a partisan political figure. It doesn’t hurt, Sir.
In another couple of days I will post the last of this simple effort of mine.
It will be regarding what needs to be done to vaccinate the City Council.
Harare is a mini-government.
It is as big as 10 to 15 small government ministries combined.
Do you know that Harare has, historically, had a budget and population equal to or greater than some SADC states?
Yes, Harare is a mini-government.
It is as big as 10 to 15 small government ministries combined.
I am not looking for a job (I don’t NEED one) nor am I seeking continued relevance in matters municipal.
But I would love to give the President, maybe in one hour, the recipe – the Salisbury Solution.
Those close to Shumba whisper this – if you may.
See you in a couple of days with my final FB proposals.
Kindest regards
(H1- Retired.)
