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Makwavarara out
Michael Padera, The Herald
August 07, 2007

http://allafrica.com/stories/200708070092.html

Harare commission chairperson Ms Sekesayi Makwavarara resigned yesterday after being at the helm of Town House for four years. No reasons were given for her resignation. She was immediately replaced by property mogul and Zimbabwe's first black chartered quantity surveyor, Engineer Michael Mahachi. The Mahachi commission is expected to administer Harare until January next year when elections for a substantive council are held. The Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Cde Ignatius Chombo, made the announcement at a brief press conference in Harare yesterday afternoon. "We are appointing new commissioners to run the affairs of Harare until the appropriate council is elected. Ms Makwavarara has resigned. She elected not to be reconsidered for reappointment," said Cde Chombo. Clad in a yellow and white dress and matching white shoes, Ms Makwavarara showed no emotions and did not give a farewell speech.

Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre chief executive officer Dr Robson Mafoti was retained as commission deputy chairperson. Professor Jameson Kurasha also resigned from the commission while the director of Civil Protection Unit, Mr Madzudzo Pawadyira, was dropped. Retained in the new commission are under-secretary responsible for rural local authorities Mr Killian Mpingo, Borrowdale district administrator Mr Alfred Tome, Harare Metropolitan provincial administrator Mr Justin Chivavaya, principal director in Vice President Joice Mujuru's Office Dr Sylvia Masango, city planner Mr Sasha Jogi and lawyer Mr Thembinkosi Magwaliba. Three more commissioners would soon be appointed to make a full complement of 11. Cde Chombo said Ms Makwavarara opted not to be reconsidered for reappointment. Her term expired in June but was allowed to lead Harare until yesterday.

Minister Chombo said the new commission should ensure that all posts with acting persons were filled with substantive heads while labour disputes with senior employees on suspension were resolved by the end of this month. "We want you to ensure that no one who is not working for council right now is paid anymore. You cannot be at home for two years and still withdraw a salary," he said. Eng Mahachi immediately set out his targets for the next six months, putting housing delivery on the top of his priority list. "During my tenure as chairman, I will do all I can to make sure that residents of Harare are assisted to acquire land on which to build their own houses. The commission should see to it that land for housing around the city is surveyed and subdivided into stands and sold to beneficiaries on the housing waiting list. The beneficiaries can build the houses at their own pace," he said. He said he would strengthen the construction unit to build social houses for rentals.

Eng Mahachi's ambitious programme includes partnering the private sector to build cluster homes and garden flats for young graduates. He outlined a programme for road construction and rehabilitation as well as capacitating soup kitchens. He said team effort that brings together residents, Government and civic leaders would assist to bring the sparkle back to Harare. Eng Mahachi thanked outgoing commission chairperson Ms Makwavarara for her leadership role. Ms Makwavarara will remain in the mayoral mansion until the end of the month when she is expected to vacate the house. Meanwhile, Cde Chombo announced the appointment of former Harare town clerk Mr Edward Kanengoni as the new head of capacity building unit at the Urban Development Corporation.

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