Political Reporter

Huge cracks have emerged within the  Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) over disagreements on who should assume the position of Harare Mayor that is currently occupied on temporary basis by Councillor Musarurwa Mutizwa.

A source who spoke to this publication said that the mayoral position has caused tension within CCC as the leaders are divided between Mutizwa and Councillor Enock Mupamawonde.

“The mayoral position has caused tension within the party. Chamisa (Nelson) is in support of Mutizwa to remain as the mayor of Harare. However, the likes of Tendai Biti and Charlton Hwende are pushing for Mupamawonde to be elected the substantive mayor, taking over from Mutizwa whom they accuse of being incompetent,” said the source.

The source said that Chamisa has called all CCC councillors to endorse Mutizwa as the mayor. However, some councillors have vowed to defy Chamisa’s directive saying that Mutizwa doesn’t possess the qualities needed to be the substantive mayor of Harare.

“The councillors have vowed to defy Chamisa’s directive. They argue that Mutizwa has no qualities needed to be the mayor of a capital city,” said the source.

The same source said that a clandestine resolution was already made to elect Mupamawonde as the mayor and have him deputised by Kudzai Kadzombe. Another resolution was also made by the CCC councillors to remove acting Town Clerk Mabhena Moyo and acting Chamber Secretary Warren Chiwawa and replace them with people who are aligned to CCC.

Meanwhile, CCC councillors have reportedly resolved to cause chaos and make Harare City Council ungovernable through disruption of council business. The source said that the councillors are arguing that they should not be taking instructions from the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo, because he is a ZANU PF member.