Harare Council Official set to order Jacob Mafume to demolish his property

By Staff Reporter

A City of Harare inspector, David Wadarwa, Monday told the Commission of Inquiry that demolishing Jacob Mafume’s property will be recommended since he did not follow due protocol.

This was after revelations made indicated  that the embattled Mayor transformed his residential home into a hostel outside regulatory requirements.

The commission challenged  Wadarwa to explain why he approved the inspection of the building despite the fact that it that did not match the plans.

“Why were you signing for developments which are not in accordance with the plan?” lead evidence Tapiwa Fresh Godzi pressed.

Wadarwa replied, “To me, it’s normal that I sign and then recommend that changes are made.”

When pushed further, he stammered, “It was an error on my part, Sir.” An error repeated six times, apparently, each one carefully signed off on – queried Justice Cheda.

Wadarwa claims he was pressured by his boss and dashed through the process, forging dates as he signed off on all six approvals in a single day. The commission then inquired about Wadarwa’s remedy to his mistakes.

“I will advise the owner of the property to demolish the alterations made to his property and revert to the original approved plan. I will write a letter to my seniors informing them about this,” he said.

Mafume, despite admitting to bending the rules, is clinging to the hope of “regularisation” – relying on a loophole in the by-laws.

But City of Harare Urban Planning Acting Director Samuel Nyabeza said it is not possible. He branded the inspection signatures on Mafume’s property plan as highly suspicious, noting the impossibility of such frequent inspections.

Nyabeza also insisted that Mafume must rectify his error by returning the property to its original residential status.

Mafume is understood to have jetted out of the country but will be back next week to face the commission.