News / National
Hungry man suspends hunger strike
12 Feb 2014 at 10:48hrs | Views
A man has ended his week-long hunger strike after Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni asked him to break his protest until a probe into controversy surrounding the city's salary schedule is complete.
Philosophy Nyapfumbi (42) spent five days at Town House saying he would not eat until town clerk Tendai Mahachi is suspended. Nyapfumbi said he was suspending his hunger protest until next Monday.
Nyapfumbi, who had been living on a packet of popcorn and water, was persuaded by mayor Bernard Manyenyeni to suspend his action until Monday.
Manyenyeni assured Nyapfumbi that the city council would do its best to address the matter.
"With this assurance can I on behalf of Council request you to suspend your highly commended action until after the conclusion of the audit processes we were mandated to undertake," Manyenyeni wrote to Nyapfumbi.
Nyapfumbi said: "After I am furnished with the results of the report and the conditions that they are working in, I will know whether to come back and continue or not," Nyapfumbi said.
Mahachi was suspended by Manyenyeni late last month in conformity with the Mayor's exercise of his prerogative in terms of Section 139 (3) (a) of the Urban Councils Act for allegedly failing to properly discharge his duties after he refused to give effect to a Council resolution to provide the salary and benefits schedule of all HCC senior employees including his own schedule.
The suspension, Manyenyeni said would pave the way to probe Mahachi's conduct and also launch investigations into the affairs and finances of the HCC.But Chombo early this month overturned Mahachi's suspension on the basis that he was empowered under Section 134 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) to reverse Manyenyeni's decision.
Besides incensing Nyapfumbi, Chombo's actions also infuriated human rights lawyer Tawanda Zhuwarara of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who protested that such a move was objectionable and that Chombo's purported powers in terms of Section 314 of the Urban Councils Act can only be exercised in regards to Council and not Mayoral decisions.
Philosophy Nyapfumbi (42) spent five days at Town House saying he would not eat until town clerk Tendai Mahachi is suspended. Nyapfumbi said he was suspending his hunger protest until next Monday.
Nyapfumbi, who had been living on a packet of popcorn and water, was persuaded by mayor Bernard Manyenyeni to suspend his action until Monday.
Manyenyeni assured Nyapfumbi that the city council would do its best to address the matter.
Nyapfumbi said: "After I am furnished with the results of the report and the conditions that they are working in, I will know whether to come back and continue or not," Nyapfumbi said.
Mahachi was suspended by Manyenyeni late last month in conformity with the Mayor's exercise of his prerogative in terms of Section 139 (3) (a) of the Urban Councils Act for allegedly failing to properly discharge his duties after he refused to give effect to a Council resolution to provide the salary and benefits schedule of all HCC senior employees including his own schedule.
The suspension, Manyenyeni said would pave the way to probe Mahachi's conduct and also launch investigations into the affairs and finances of the HCC.But Chombo early this month overturned Mahachi's suspension on the basis that he was empowered under Section 134 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) to reverse Manyenyeni's decision.
Besides incensing Nyapfumbi, Chombo's actions also infuriated human rights lawyer Tawanda Zhuwarara of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who protested that such a move was objectionable and that Chombo's purported powers in terms of Section 314 of the Urban Councils Act can only be exercised in regards to Council and not Mayoral decisions.
Source - herald
