Harare City Council’s Ward 17 councillor and the Human Resources Committee Chairperson Clr Jacob Mafume (43) was yesterday elected new Harare mayor. He defeated Clr Luckson Mukunguma in an election conducted at the Town House.

Clr Mafume received 19 votes, against Clr Mukunguma who received 14 votes. There was one spoilt ballot. Clr Mukunguma is the Chairperson of the Finance Committee.

Clr Mafume replaced Clr Herbert Gomba, who was recalled by the MDC-T party from council recently.

A practising lawyer, Clr Mafume is a member of the MDC-Alliance.

Some of Mayor Mafume’s remarks from his acceptance speech were quoted by The Herald.

“We will try to work together and I hope there will be stability at Town House,” he said. “What we should focus on is to get the work at hand done.”

In his contratulatory message the President of the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) Clr Josiah Makombe who is also the Mayor of Gweru said:

“On behalf of UCAZ and, indeed on my own behalf I wish to congratulate Clr Jacob Mafume for being elected, resoundingly, as the new Mayor of our capital city, Harare. Your Worship, you are assuming office during a difficult time, when the world is reeling under the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the global economy. Our towns and cities are at the coalface of the fight against the pandemic. The citizens look up to us as civic leaders to provide solutions and improve services which local authorities are expected to increase not only in quality but their coverage as well. “