Mafume quizzed for creating fake post for council non-staffer

By Caleb Chikwawawa

Harare mayor Jacob Mafume on Monday came under fire from Commissioners for creating a fake post and recruiting an ally who has reportedly also been attending meetings that are exclusive to Harare city councillors and staff.

Mafume has been appearing before the Retired Justice Maphios Cheda led Commission of Inquiry that is conducting hearings over alleged malpractices within the country’s biggest local authority.

On Monday, he came under questioning by the Commission if it was his mandate to employ members of the executive.

The Commission said armed with evidence that Mafume created a post for one Kashangura whom he calls a strategist for council.

However, the opposition CCC official told Commissioners that Kashangura was not part of council staff but was volunteering his services to the local authority. He said the disputed staffer was compiling a report on “strategic turnarounds” for council.

“There is no mandate for me to employ. All employment is done through committees,” Mafume said.

“Kashangura is not an employee of council, he is an engineer. Kashangura came in during the time when I was out of office.

“When the (former) mayor Ian Makone came into office, he wanted to do a strategic analysis of the organisation through the council.

“He (Kashangura) volunteered, he did not get paid from council. He doesn’t get paid from council. He had a relationship with councillor Ian Makone. The council agreed with councillor Makone that we could have him as a strategic advisor.”

He added, “After Ian Makone, I just allowed him to finish his report. There was a proposal of appreciation. There was just one proposal from one councillor.

Mafume was also questioned for allegedly firing some staff soon after they had exposed some information to the Commission.

A Mathew Marara was cited as one of the officials who were allegedly victimised after he disclosed some foul goings-on within council corridors.