By Ben Manyenyeni
The 3 most recent Mayors of Harare have been arrested in office – in what must be a world record for a capital city.
Yours truly was the pioneer – 6 years ago today the regime hosted me.
What is supposed to be the best job on the world – with a fine mix of business management, community welfare and politics has become the most hazardous job in the Republic.
If ZanuPF is not voted out of power in 2023 the calibre of Mayors must be tougher and tougher to withstand the brutality allocated to that ordinarily civic office.
The mayoral office must now be reserved for our most battle-haddened activists in order to match the brute force occasioned by ZanuPF.
When they banged the cell door behind me a dimunitive figure whose lone presence I had not noticed crawled out of a tired red blanket from one corner.
He enquired, with wholesome familiarity, “Your Worship, why are they doing this to you?”
The politest response that I could muster was “It happens……”
We concluded that short exchange with his reassuring one – “It’s part of your annointing”.
He then begged for a favour …… that at the stroke of midnight he wanted to pray for me, me obliging.
I also then asked if he didn’t mind me singing whenever I could.
James gave me the nod.
My hopeless singing talent repeatedly spoiled my cell mate’s night as I sang repeatedly Makanaka Jesu Munoshamisa and Ebenezer, Ebenezer with remarkable positivity throughout.
The ZRP team was so so warm to me – this must be on record.
