Mafume dismisses claims over 'gold' Mayoral chain

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has dismissed social media speculation that his mayoral chain is gold-coated and a deliberate attention-grabbing accessory, saying the assumptions were unfounded and made in jest.

Mafume made the remarks humorously during a full council meeting on Thursday, where his comments drew laughter from councillors and members of the public gallery. He was responding to online discussions triggered by a viral video and images showing him interacting with an unidentified woman at the Miss Universe event held in Braeside over the weekend.

The mayor, who attended the council meeting wearing traditional attire in observance of Culture Month, joked that he had even left his ceremonial chains aside to avoid further attention. His comments were met with laughter as he addressed what he described as light-hearted public curiosity around his public image.

He said, as a public figure, he understood that his actions and appearances often attract scrutiny, adding that he did not expect to escape public commentary as mayor of Harare.

Mayoral chains, also known as livery collars, are ceremonial regalia worn by mayors during official civic functions such as council meetings and installations. Typically composed of linked metal segments, they often feature engravings marking successive office holders and are worn alongside ceremonial robes as symbols of municipal authority.

The tradition of mayoral regalia originates from British civic governance systems and remains in use in many Commonwealth countries as part of formal local government protocol.