Political Correspondent
The machinations to unseat Harare City Mayor, Jacob Mafume from his position as Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillor for Ward 7, in Mt Pleasant and from his seat as Mayor of Harare are intensifying.
CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa is seriously eyeing Happymore Gotora to be Mafume's replacement, a move criticized by political analysts who see it as a manifestation of internal discord, where political interests eclipse the greater welfare of the people.
John Magadu, a political analyst from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), explained that the intricate political maneuvers within the CCC underscore a power struggle within the party, diverting attention from addressing critical issues affecting the city and its residents.
"During this highly inappropriate time, as Harare grapples with a severe service delivery crisis, internal conflicts and recalls have taken center stage. The poor service provision has triggered a Cholera outbreak, compounding challenges for urbanites. Rather than witnessing concerted efforts to enhance living conditions, the citizens of Harare find themselves entangled in the crossfire of political ambitions," remarked Magadu.
Magadu emphasized CCC's apparent shift towards prioritizing power struggles and financial gains over the well-being of the suffering Harare residents.
"One cannot ignore the perception that the CCC is increasingly fixates on power struggles and financial gains, neglecting dire issues affecting Harare and the nation at large. The party's primary duty should be to serve the interests of the people, addressing critical challenges such as water shortages, inadequate sanitation, and a serious Cholera outbreak," he stated.
Magadu emphasized the Cholera outbreak as a stark reminder of the consequences of political infighting, stressing the urgency of resolving the city's service delivery crisis. He urged the CCC to refocus on the people's interests rather than political power plays.
Simultaneously, George Charamba, Deputy Chief Secretary Presidential Communications, suggested invoking Presidential Powers to take control of CCC-run HCC councils. He argued that CCC infighting has paralyzed Harare, and with the ongoing cholera pandemic, it's time for direct state administration.
"With the paralysis of which CCC infighting has wrought on city of Harare, and given the raging cholera pandemic, it is about time the Local Government Minister approached His Excellency the President with the proposal to use Presidential Powers to bring Harare Municipality under direct state administration,” said Charamba on his X account.
Meanwhile, the residents of Harare, who are already grappling with poor service delivery and a cholera outbreak, deserve leadership that places their welfare as the top priority. The ineffectiveness of CCC councillors in Harare has necessitated Government intervention to address the mounting issue of illegally dumped garbage, posing health risks to citizens. The swift response comes in the form of Operation Chenesa Harare, an urgent and extensive cleanup initiative aimed at mitigating the health hazards caused by burgeoning illegal dumpsites.
