"You will be brought before a competent authority to answer the allegations above," Kasukuwere said in the letter.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe addresses supporters gathered to
celebrate his 92nd birthday in Masvingo February 27, 2016. Picture taken
February 27, 2016.
The Zimbabwean government has suspended the mayor of Harare
accusing him of insubordination, escalating a struggle for control of
the capital which has been run by the opposition since 2002.
President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF has consistently lost elections in Harare to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) since 2000, but has asserted itself by firing mayors using a
disputed law that allows a cabinet minister to wield the axe on elected
councillors.
Local Government Minister Saviour
Kasukuwere sent a suspension letter to mayor Bernard Manyenyeni on
Wednesday, accusing him of appointing the city council's top executive,
known as the town clerk, despite government objections.
"You will be brought before a competent authority to answer the allegations above," Kasukuwere said in the letter.
Control
of Zimbabwe's major cities, which are all run by the MDC, would allow
ZANU-PF to influence lucrative tenders and contracts for development
projects, and appoint its own people to senior positions as part of the
ruling party's patronage system.
Mugabe, 92, is
Africa's oldest leader and has been in charge for 36 years. He has
indicated that he intends to stay in power for life.
Manyenyeni's
suspension follows that of the mayor of the third largest city Gweru
last year, which the High Court later overturned. The court ruled that a
government minister no longer had such powers under a new constitution
passed in 2013.
Manyenyeni confirmed his suspension but declined further comment.
MDC
shadow minister for local government Jameson Timba said a mayor could
only be disciplined by an independent tribunal established by
parliament. Such a tribunal is yet to be set up.
"Under
these circumstances, Kasukuwere has acted unlawfully. We have launched
an urgent application in the High Court to have this purported decision
to suspend the mayor set aside," Timba told Reuters.
Kasukuwere was not immediately reachable for comment.
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