Mayor of Mutare

Last updated

Mayor of Mutare
Incumbent
Simon Chabuka
since 28 November 2023
Style His Worship
Inaugural holder G. F. Dawson
Formation1914;109 years ago (1914)
Website Official webpage

The Mayor of Mutare is the executive of the government of Mutare, Zimbabwe (known as Umtali until 1983). The Mayor is a member of the Mutare City Council, and is assisted by a deputy mayor. The Mayor uses the style "His Worship". [1] The current mayor is Simon Chabuka. [2]

Contents

History

The Town of Umtali became a municipality, in the form of a town, on 11 June 1914. [3] Its first mayor, elected in August 1914, was G. F. Dawson. The mayor and new municipal council replaced the Sanitary Board which had previously governed the settlement. [3]

In 1980, following Zimbabwe's independence, Davidson Jahwi was elected the first black Mayor of Umtali. [1]

Umtali's name was changed to Mutare in 1983.

In 2005, Mayor Misheck Kagurabadza (MDC–T) was suspended from his position by the Minister of Local Government, Ignatius Chombo. [4] Mutare, along with other major cities that had seen their democratically elected MDC–T mayors suspended, was governed by a ZANU–PF-dominated special commission until 2008. [4]

In 2008, Brian James, a white MDC–T member, was elected mayor. [5] He was suspended and then fired in 2008 by Ignatius Chombo, who accused James of mismanagement, misconduct, and insubordination. [6] However, the firing was, in reality, thought to be politically motivated. [6]

List of mayors

The following is a list of past mayors of Mutare (previously known as Umtali until 1983).

MayorTerm startTerm end PartyRef.
G. F. Dawson 19141916 [1]
W. J. Hosgood 19161917 [1]
G. F. Dawson 19171918 [1]
Charles Eickhoff 19181920 RGA [1]
Jack Meikle 19201921 [1]
W. J. McIntosh 19211922 [1]
Jack Meikle 19221923 [1]
W. Stevens 19231925 [1]
J. H. Jeffreys 19251926 [1]
Frederick J. Taylor 19261927 [1]
W. J. McIntosh 19271928 [1]
L. Miller 19281929 [1]
Oswald Trevor Baker 19291932 Rhodesia Party [1]
JT Woods 19321934 [1]
Alfred Bain 19341938 [1]
George Washington Chace 19381941 Liberal Party [1]
W. R. Love 19411942 [1]
Edward King Evans 19421945 [1]
Demetrius Catsicas 19451948 [1]
R. T. Perkins 19481949 [1]
Saxon W. Wood 19491952 [1]
Harry Went 19521953 [1]
Johannes Mattheus Wessels 19531955 [1]
Norman Innes 19551957 [1]
Demetrius Catsicas 19571958 [1]
George Robert Leach 19581959 [1]
Jack Mussett 19591961 [1]
Leslie Herbert Morris 19611964 United Federal Party [1]
James W. MacGregor 19641966 [1]
W. W. S. Smart 19661968 [1]
James Somerville Murray 19681969 [1]
John Constantinos Kircos 19691972 [1]
Douglas G. Reed 19721975 [1]
John Charles Burke August 1975August 1977 [1] [7]
Douglas G. Reed 19771978 [1]
Max Phillips 19781980 [1] [8]
Davidson Jahwi November 198024 January 1984 ZANU–PF [1] [9] [10]
Enock Msabaeka 19841991
Lawrence Mudehwe October 1990August 2003 ZANU–PF (before 1995) [11]
Independent (1995–1999)
MDC–T (after 1999)
Misheck Kagurabadza 200323 July 2005 MDC–T [12]
Mayor suspended; Mutare administered by a special commission [13]
Brian James 2008April 2013 MDC–T [5] [6]
Tatenda Nhamarare September 2013September 2018 MDC–T [14]
Blessing Tandi 6 September 201811 February 2022 MDC Alliance [15] [16] [17]
Simon Chabuka 17 February 2022August 2023 CCC [16] [17] [2]
Sophia Rudo Gwasira 11 September 20239 November 2023 CCC [18] [19]
Simon Chabuka 28 November 2023 CCC [2]

Deputy mayors

Notable former deputy mayors

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZANU–PF</span> Ruling political party of Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) is a political organisation which has been the ruling party of Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. The party was led for many years under Robert Mugabe, first as prime minister with the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and then as president from 1987 after the merger with the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and retaining the name ZANU–PF, until 2017, when he was removed as leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mutare</span> Largest and Admistration City of Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe

Mutare, formerly known as Umtali until 1982, is the most populous city in the province of Manicaland, and the third most populous city in Zimbabwe, having surpassed Gweru in the 2012 census, with an urban population of 224,802 and approximately 260,567 in the surrounding districts, giving the wider metropolitan area a total population of over 500,000 people. Mutare is also the capital of Manicaland Province and the largest city in eastern Zimbabwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abel Muzorewa</span> First and only prime minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979-80)

Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa, also commonly referred to as Bishop Muzorewa, was a Zimbabwean bishop and politician who served as the first and only Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979. A United Methodist Church bishop and nationalist leader, he held office for only a few months.

Operation Murambatsvina, also officially known as Operation Restore Order, was a large-scale Zimbabwean government campaign to forcibly clear slum areas across the country. The campaign started in 2005 and according to United Nations estimates has affected at least 700,000 people directly through loss of their homes or livelihood and thus could have indirectly affected around 2.4 million people. Robert Mugabe and other government officials characterised the operation as a crackdown against illegal housing and commercial activities, and as an effort to reduce the risk of the spread of infectious disease in these areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Mutambara</span> Zimbabwean politician

Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara is a Zimbabwean politician. He became the president of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in February 2006. He has worked as a director and CEO of Africa Technology and Business Institute since September 2003. Under a September 2008 power-sharing agreement, Mutambara served in the government as one of two Deputy Prime Ministers from 2009 to 2013.

Elias Mudzuri is a Zimbabwean engineer and politician. Mudzuri was elected to a four-year term as Mayor of Harare, Zimbabwe, a city of 1.8 million, in March 2002. He was Acting president of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kembo Mohadi</span> Zimbabwean politician

Kembo Dugish Campbell Muleya Mohadi is a Zimbabwean politician and Vice-President of Zimbabwe since 8 September 2023. He previously served in the same role from 28 December 2017 to 1 March 2021, when he resigned. He briefly served as the Minister of Defence, Security and War Veterans in 2017. Previously he was Minister of State for National Security in the President's Office from 2015 to 2017 and Minister of Home Affairs from 2002 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ignatius Chombo</span> Zimbabwean politician (born 1952)

Ignatius Morgen Chiminya Chombo is a Zimbabwean politician who was Finance Minister of Zimbabwe in 2017. Previously he has served in the Cabinet of Zimbabwe as Minister of Home Affairs from 2015 to 2017, Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development from 2000 to 2015.

Emmanuel Chiroto was the deputy mayor of Harare, Zimbabwe. In the March 2008 election, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won 45 of the 46 local council seats in Harare. Chiroto, who is a member of the MDC was elected as Mayor of Harare by the councillors on June 15. Ignatius Chombo, the Minister of Local Government, had not sworn in the new local administrations, and because the elected Harare councillors were not allowed to meet at Harare's Town House, they met elsewhere to elect Chiroto. On the night of June 16, Chiroto's house in the suburb of Hatcliffe was attacked and destroyed by ZANU-PF supporters; Chiroto believed that petrol bombs were used. Chiroto's wife, Abigail, and his four-year-old son were taken away by the attackers, although his son was delivered to a police station on June 16. Chiroto himself was not present when the attack occurred. His wife was later found murdered on June 18, 2008 at a farm in outlying Borrowdale. Chiroto went into hiding following this incident.

The second round of voting in the Zimbabwean presidential election of 2008 was held between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai after the first round failed to produce a 50% majority for either candidate. The election process was marred by violence against and intimidation of voters and party workers, which eventually led to the withdrawal of Tsvangirai from the poll. This left Mugabe as the winner of, effectively, a one-candidate election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai</span> Political party in Zimbabwe

The Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC–T) is a centre-left political party and was the main opposition party in the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe ahead of the 2018 elections. After the split of the original Movement for Democratic Change in 2005, the MDC–T remained the major opposition faction, while a smaller faction, the Movement for Democratic Change – Ncube, or MDC–N, was led by Welshman Ncube.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Zimbabwean general election</span>

General elections were held in Zimbabwe on 29 March 2008 to elect the President and Parliament. Because of Zimbabwe's dire economic situation, the elections were expected to provide incumbent President Robert Mugabe with his toughest electoral challenge to date. Mugabe's opponents were critical of the handling of the electoral process, and the government was accused of planning to rig the election. Human Rights Watch said that the election was likely to be "deeply flawed."

Allan Norman "Rusty" Markham is a Zimbabwean farmer and politician who was elected to the National Assembly of Zimbabwe for Harare North in the 2018 general election as a member of the MDC Alliance. He crossed the floor to the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change and was elected Member of Parliament for the neighbouring Harare East constituency in the 2023 general election.

Michael Theodore Hayes Auret was a Zimbabwean farmer, politician, and activist. A devout Catholic, he served as chairman and later director of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJP) from 1978 until 1999. He also served as a member of Parliament for Harare Central from 2000 to 2003, when he resigned and emigrated to Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harare City Council</span> Harare city council

The Harare City Council is the local governing body of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. It is composed of 46 councillors, each representing a different ward. It is headed by the mayor of Harare, who is assisted by a deputy mayor. The current mayor is Ian Makone of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), and the deputy mayor is Kudzai Mazhombe.

Herbert Thomas Gomba is a Zimbabwean politician who served as mayor of Harare from 2018 to 2020. He has been a member of the Harare City Council since 2008 representing Ward 27, which covers parts of the Glen Norah suburb. Gomba was elected and sworn in as mayor on 3 September 2018, but was recalled from the City Council on 14 August 2020 amid factional disputes within the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance. He was reelected to the City Council in a March 2022 by-election as a Citizens Coalition for Change candidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Gara</span> Zimbabwean politician

Oriah Anthony Gara was a Zimbabwean businessman and politician. He was a member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe for Mbare East from 1990 to 2000 and served as deputy minister of local government, rural and urban development from 1995 until 2000. Before entering Parliament, he was a member of the Harare City Council and served as mayor of Harare from 1985 to 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citizens Coalition for Change</span> Political party in Zimbabwe

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is a Zimbabwean political party that is led by Nelson Chamisa. It was established on 22 January 2022 and was announced on 24 January 2022 at a press conference at Bronte Hotel in Harare.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 Minute of His Worship the Mayor. Umtali: City of Umtali. 1980. p. 5.
  2. 1 2 3 Muleya, Martin (2 December 2023). "Chabuka bounces back as Mutare Mayor". Chipinge Times. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 Shoebridge, Clyde L. (December 1969). "The Umtali Tramways Limited" (PDF). Rhodesiana . 21: 7.
  4. 1 2 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2007. Government Printing Office. 2008. p. 642. ISBN   9780160813993.
  5. 1 2 Rogers, Douglas (14 April 2010). "Zimbabwe's Accidental Triumph". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Sibanda, Tichaona (20 April 2013). "Suspended Mutare Mayor Brian James speaks out on dismissal". SW Radio Africa. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  7. ↑ Minute of His Worship the Mayor. Umtali: City of Umtali. 1978. p. 11.
  8. ↑ Thatcher, Gary (15 January 1980). "Rhodesia city skeptical as border opens". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  9. ↑ Cleary, Frederick (4 December 1980). "Black rule comes to town councils". The Herald. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  10. ↑ Meldrum, Andrew (25 January 1984). "Council tumbles to Zanu radical". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  11. ↑ Olukoshi, Adebayo O. (1998). The Politics of Opposition in Contemporary Africa. Nordic Africa Institute. p. 105. ISBN   9789171064196.
  12. ↑ "Zim suspends MDC mayor". News24. 30 December 2005. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  13. ↑ "Mayor suspended in clean-up retribution drive". ZimOnline. 23 July 2005. Retrieved 22 December 2023– via ReliefWeb Mobile.
  14. ↑ Chiketo, Bernard (17 September 2013). "Nhamarare elected Mutare mayor". DailyNews Live. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Nyangani, Kenneth (8 September 2018). "New councillors warned against taking politics into chambers". NewsDay. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  16. 1 2 Nyangani, Kenneth (18 February 2022). "Councillor faints after losing mayoral election". NewsDay. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  17. 1 2 "NEW: Chabuka elected Mutare's new mayor". The Manica Post. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  18. ↑ Shamu, Brent; Makosi, Ropafadzo; Moyo, Nizbert (12 September 2023). "Mutare elects Zim's second female mayor... as Makone, Coltart land Hre, Byo posts". NewsDay. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "Tshabangu Recalls Over 50 More CCC Councillors". The Zimbabwean. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.