HARARE, Zimbabwe — Jacob Mafume has made a triumphant return as the Mayor of Harare, securing victory with a vote count of 22 to 15 against opponent Elvis Ruzani.
Mafume, a legal professional, previously held the mayoral position from 2018 to 2023 before being succeeded by Ian Makone following the harmonized elections on August 23-24, 2023.
The vacancy in the mayoral post emerged when Lovejoy Chitengu, elected as the councillor for Ward 36 in the August 2023 general elections, faced a recall by interim party secretariat Sengezo Tshabangu.
Notably, Chitengu had taken over from Ian Makone, who was also subject to a recall in November.
Despite a spelling error in Chitengu’s name sparing him from the initial recall, Tshabangu ordered a subsequent recall.
Tshabangu defended the recalls, asserting that the targeted representatives from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) were imposed by party leader Nelson Chamisa during a controversial candidate selection process.
Some political analysts suggest that Chamisa utilized a distinct candidate selection approach to sideline opponents and favor party loyalists.
Others view the recalls as part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s strategy to undermine the opposition.
Jacob Mafume’s reappointment as mayor signals a significant shift in Harare’s leadership.
However, the frequent changes in mayoral positions and the internal disputes within the CCC raise concerns about the city’s stability and effective governance.
Mafume becomes the fourth mayor of Harare in the span of just four months, reflecting a period of ongoing political flux and transformation.
