Harare Mayor arrested after court orders his reinstatement

THE opposition MDC-T said Thursday it “strenuously” condemns “the unlawful arrest and detention” of Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni which the party blamed on the “malevolent and grossly malicious machinations of the Minister of Local Government Saviour Kasukuwere”.

Manyenyeni was arrested just after a High Court judge lifted his latest suspension by Kasukuwere and ordered the mayor’s return to Town House.

Kasukuwere was told not to suspend the MDC-T mayor again and ordered to pay the costs of the court case. But before the mayor could enjoy his court triumph, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) agents promptly swooped and arrested the mayor on allegations of criminal abuse of office.

Manyenyeni was detained at Avondale police station and is expected to appear in court Friday morning.

Reacting to the arrest, MDC-T spokesman Obert Gutu said in a statement: “It is patently clear that the unlawful arrest and detention of the Mayor of Harare at the Avondale Police Station has been occasioned by the malevolent and grossly malicious machinations of Minister Kasukuwere.

“Kasukuwere is on a Zanu PF-inspired mission to totally decimate all the MDC-controlled urban local authorities as the bankrupt and clueless Zanu PF regime gears to rig the harmonised elections that are scheduled to be held in 2018.”

Gutu added: “If anything, Kasukuwere is determined to get Mayor Manyenyeni out of the way at Town Harare so that he can continue to unlawfully usurp and interfere with the day to day management of the city’s affairs.

“When everything has been said and done, Kasukuwere is simply performing the evil hatchet job of the beleaguered and bankrupt Zanu PF regime to ensure that mayhem and disorder prevail in all urban local authorities that are controlled by the MDC.”

The MDC-T national spokesman said Kasukuwere would not be allowed to get away with his “Stalinist” agenda.

“Kasukuwere might call himself a political thug but he can be assured that the MDC will not allow him to have his cake and eat it,” said Gutu.

“We shall jealously guard and protect the autonomy and constitutional independence of all our elected councillors.

“The MDC shall not rest until all the applicable and relevant political and legal pressure is brought to bear upon Kasukuwere to make sure that Mayor Manyenyeni and indeed, all MDC councillors throughout Zimbabwe, do not continue to be harassed and disturbed in the lawful discharge of their duties.”

Source-New Zimbabwe