Back to Index

Harare Mayor's suspension unjustified
Zimbabwe Civil Education Trust (ZIMCET)
May 02, 2003

The Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust is greatly concerned with the sudden suspension of Elias Mudzuri from office. It is sad to note that this is happening in a society that claims to be democratic. Engineer Elias Mudzuri was elected by the residents of Harare and it is entirely up to them to decide weather or not he has fulfilled his obligations to run the city. In addition the force-marching of Mbare traders and residents to demonstrate against a popular Engineer Mudzuri cannot be used to argue that the mayor has failed to turn around the city of Harare.

Furthermore, there is no basis for the suspension of Elias Mudzuri when there was a near outbreak of cholera in Gweru resulting from a sewage leek, and the relevant Ministry failed to take action against the responsible mayor. The mere fact the Mayor of Gweru still remains in office to this day defies all logic that the Minister has suspended Mudzuri for the well being of the residents of Harare.

In the interest of peace, a responsible government should try by all means to avoid creating a chaotic situation . Minister Chombo has made a decision that can further sour relations between the residents of Harare and the Ministry. The situation that the country is facing calls for level headed decisions that take into consideration the consequences that come with these decisions.

ZIMCET calls upon Minister Chombo to discharge his duties impartially in the spirit of tolerance and peace building so that society can be convinced that his decisions are not in anyway political. Failure to do this poses a great threat to peace not just in Harare but through out the country and such a scenario is the last thing that Zimbabwe needs right now.

D. A. Chimhini
Executive Director

Visit the ZIMCET fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP