JUST IN: Harare mayor, deputy suspended

The Minister of Local Government, July Moyo has suspended Harare mayor Jacob Mafume and his deputy, Lucky Mukunguma.

The two are facing corruption charges, and Mafume was recently re-arrested for allegedly interfering with a State witness after being granted bail.

It is also alleged that he tried to bribe the state witness to testify in his favor, in his corruption case which is before the courts.

However, he denies the charge, and in his earlier court appearance not enough evidence was produced in court to back the bribe allegations.

It was also noted in court that the money he was in possession at the time of the re-arrest did not tally with the said bribe.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana has confirmed Mafume’s suspension.

“Harare Mayor, J. Mafume, his Deputy councillor Lucky Mukunguma and 4 other Harare councillors who have cases pending before the courts have been suspended by the Minister of Local Government until the finalisation of their cases,” he wrote on his microblog Twitter handle.

-Zwnews