Court set back for Mushore

The High Court has dismissed, with costs, Harare town clerk James Mushore's urgent chamber application seeking an order forcing acting mayor Councillor Chris Mbanga to unlock his office at Town House.

Clr Mbanga locked Mr Mushore's office insisting that the former NMBZ Holdings group chief executive officer was suspended from work pending the finalisation of his case.

Mr Mushore was suspended the same day he was appointed. Justice Joseph Martin Mafusire who presided over the matter ruled that it was not urgent to warrant the court's intervention.

Mr Mushore's lawyer Mr Charles Kwaramba confirmed to The Herald yesterday that the matter was dismissed for want of urgency.

In his application, Mr Mushore had argued that council's conduct of locking up his office and stopping him from reporting for duty was unlawful. He wanted the court to intervene and restore his employment rights.

Clr Mbanga is now under suspension from his party MDC-T, which contends the acting mayor has become malcontent.

He took over the reigns as acting mayor in April following the suspension of Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni. Clr Manyenyeni is accused of improper conduct and insubordination for appointing a new town clerk without following properly laid down Government procedures.

Government argues that the appointment of Mr Mushore had not been approved by the Local Government Board. To rectify the situation, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, rescinded council's decision.

This sparked lawsuits against the Government.