HARARE – Outspoken MDC-Alliance Councillor Jacob Mafume has been elected the new Mayor of Harare after garnering 19 votes against Councillor Enock Mupamawonde who got 14 votes.
Clr Mupamawonde was the Acting Mayor after Councillor Herbert Gomba was recalled by the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe for supporting MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa.
35 councillors were expected to vote but one councillor was absent and sent apology while one ballot was spoilt, leaving 33 proper votes.
In his acceptance speech, His Worship Mafume said he wants to turn Harare around to be a smart city.
Mayor Mafume promised to lead a corruption-free council and urged his team to prioritise service delivery.
He said there is a need for stability at the townhouse and though it is a difficult time for workers, he promised to look into their welfare.
The MDC Alliance nominated Mafume to run for the mayorship since he was formerly with PDP (People’s Democratic Party) which was led by Tendai Biti.
This means that Khupe’s MDC-T cannot recall Mafume as they did with Gomba.
