Makwavarara’s days numbered at Town House

By Tichaona Sibanda
31 October 2006

The chairperson of the commission running the affairs of the city of Harare, Sekesai Makwavara may soon be facing the axe after she was heavily censured by a Parliamentary committee probing her incompetence at the Town House.

The Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Communication was so incensed with Makwavarara’s sheer lack of ability that its chairman Leo Mugabe labelled her ‘a liar’. She was given a two-week ultimatum to explain her failure to implement Parliament’s recommendations on the rehabilitation of roads and traffic lights in the capital.

Makwavarara, long accused by Harare residents of incompetence and damaging the city’s reputation, was exposed for her negligence and corruption when she appeared before the parliamentary committee on Monday. When government hounded popular MDC mayor Elias Mudzuri out of Town House, they had made similar accusations - although in Mudzuri’s case, the allegations were not based on fact.

Instead of giving the committee progress reports on what her commission was doing to spruce up the rundown city, Makwavarara, who had initially snubbed the committee on two occasions, gave incoherent presentations which were rubbished by Leo Mugabe.

An unimpressed Mugabe is reported to have shot back at Makwavarara and her team; ‘We do not want these cooked up reports which have too many errors.’ Makwavarara’s team included acting town clerk Stanley Mungofa, acting Director of Works Michael Jaravaza and Noelyn Shumba.

Combined Harare Residents Association vice chairman, Israel Mabhoo said the committee’s rebuke of Makwavarara reflected a vote of no-confidence in her commission.

‘The Parliamentary Committee is trying to address real issues as per the constitution and statutory policies of the country. But we know there is a strong political hand that is protecting the commission. There is so much corruption that an end to Makwavarara’s reign will open up a can of worms,’ Mabhoo said.

Legislators from all parties have joined forces to roundly condemn Makwavarara, amid reports the MPs are concocting a plot to oust her.