HARARE – Ian Makone of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is the new mayor of Harare following a vote by councillors on Monday.
He replaces Jacob Mafume, the ward 17 councillor.
Makone, of ward 18, will be deputised by Kudzai Kadzombe of ward 41.
The CCC won 42 of Harare’s 45 council seats and used its commanding advantage in the election. The CCC has 10 other women’s quota councillors while Zanu PF has four.
Makone polled 46 votes while challenger Temany Utete of Zanu PF secured seven.
Kadzombe won 47 votes to beat Zanu PF’s Susan Chuma, who had seven.
CCC councillors were whipped to vote for Makone and Kadzombe by party leader Nelson Chamisa, who has issued similar instructions in Bulawayo where David Coltart will become mayor deputised by Dumisani Nkomo.
Makone, giving his maiden speech, said service delivery will top his agenda for the next five years.
“Our single-minded commitment is the provision of service to all residents of Harare regardless of political affiliation. We are accountable to the residents of Harare, and we shall be a listening council,” he said.
Makone said to curb corruption by council officials, his administration will pay workers adequately.
“I urge anyone who is intending on engaging in corrupt practices that there will be no sacred cows. I also believe well remunerated staff is an effective staff,” he said.
Harare secretary for provincial affairs, Tafadzwa Muguti, who witnessed the election, assured the new Harare council of government support to solve challenges bedevilling the city such as water supply, garbage and sewer.
“You are now part of government. There is no them, there is no us; we are one Zimbabweans,” he said.
