Jacob Mafume, a councillor with the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) party and the current Mayor of Harare, has defended the decision of mayors and council chairpersons to attend a two-day training seminar organised by the ruling ZANU PF party’s Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works summoned all mayors and council chairpersons to attend the indoctrination sessions held at the Rainbow Towers Hotel on August 21 and 22.
While Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart and his deputy Edwin Ndlovu opted not to attend, Mafume was among those who participated in the training.
Although the training was conducted by Munyaradzi Machacha, the principal of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology and the ZANU PF National Political Commissar, Mafume has sought to justify the attendance of the opposition-led local authorities. Said Mafume:
<blockquote>
We cannot shy away from attending some of these workshops when we are invited by our parent Ministry. No one has been asked to renounce their political party, but people have gone to understand the genesis and philosophy that some of us are operating in. It is something we have no qualms about attending, and we are part and parcel of that process.
</blockquote>
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/ideological-college-open-to-every-zimbabwean">The Sunday Mail</a> in 2022, Machacha made it clear that the Chitepo School of Ideology is a party school for ZANU PF. He said:
<blockquote>
Chitepo School of Ideology is a party school for ZANU PF. Its mission is to train and conscientise the leadership of the party, including the cadres, that the party deploys into Government, parastatals and other key national institutions. We aim to raise the political and ideological consciousness of the entire citizens of Zimbabwe.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Mayors, Council Chairpersons, and Town Clerks who participated in the two-day training programme were expected to receive certificates for completing the Chitepo School of Ideology course this Friday.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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The Mayor of Harare, Jacob Mafume, is defending CCC councillors attending a ZANU PF training. The training was held at the Rainbow Towers Hotel and conducted by the ZANU PF National Political Commissar. Mafume says it's important to understand the ideology, even though it's a party school for ZANU PF. Some mayors chose not to attend. Participants will get certificates for completing the course. It's not about changing parties, just understanding different perspectives. The goal of the training is to raise awareness about politics and ideology in Zimbabwe.

Mafume Defends CCC Councillors' Attendance At ZANU PF Ideology Workshop

Harare mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, has been criticised for attending a ZANU PF indoctrination programme at the party’s Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.
Mafume is among a group of mayors, chairpersons, councillors, and staff from 92 local authorities across the country who attended the two-day training session at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare.
The training was conducted by Munyaradzi Machacha, the principal of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology and ZANU PF’s National Political Commissar, on behalf of the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
However, the mayors of Bulawayo, David Coltart, and his deputy, Edwin Ndlovu, did not attend the training. Instead, the city’s Town Clerk and Finance Director attended in their place.
Former CCC MP Job Sikhala, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), suggested that the opposition councillors attending the training may be motivated by greed. He wrote:
<blockquote>
There are more important things in life than money and power. No amount of silver and gold should persuade you to sacrifice your values and principles to be dragged to the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, to be brainwashed with some redundant ideology.
The ideology that is anti-people, promotion of the persecution of those in disagreement with that moribund ideology and intolerance of opponents of the establishment!
</blockquote>
Hopewell Chin’ono, a prominent government critic, was more blunt in his assessment of Mafume’s attendance at the ZANU PF ideological training.
Chin’ono accused Mafume of “treachery” saying he is now serving his own interests and those of the ruling ZANU PF party. Said Chin’ono:
<blockquote>
Harareans rejected ZANU PF in toto, but here you are, Mayor, using taxpayers’ money to attend an ideological indoctrination workshop at a ZANU PF indoctrination school!
I wouldn’t blame anyone who argues that you are no longer serving the interests of the residents of Harare, you are now serving your own interests and those of ZANU PF!
I can’t imagine that you would leave your office for the whole day to go to a ZANU PF indoctrination school when your residents have no clean drinking water!
It is just irresponsible for any opposition-elected mayor to do such a reckless thing! You have insulted the residents of Harare.
They are powerless because everything in Zimbabwe is captured, but at this point, it is fair to say you don’t represent them anymore!
… History will never forgive you for this treachery Jacob, you have betrayed the residents of Harare.
Our country is broken both politically and economically because of ZANU PF, yet you see it fit to not only go to a ZANU PF indoctrination school but to also use our money as Harareans attending this rubbish!
If Harareans had a way to remove you they would, but of course, ZANUPF courts will protect you, I am disappointed in not only your irresponsible actions, but in you too!
You have undermined the democratic process by participating in a ZANUPF indoctrination workshop while serving as an opposition mayor, you have “legitimised” the ruling party’s authoritarian tactics.
Long live David Coltart, the Mayor of Bulawayo, for rejecting this nonsense!
</blockquote>
Mafume is a member of the opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) and was re-elected as the mayor of Harare following the 2023 general elections.
His re-election came after Sengezo Tshabangu controversially recalled his two predecessors, Ian Makone and Lovejoy Chitengu.
Tshabangu, known for unilaterally recalling scores of CCC MPs and Councillors, defended the mandatory two-day ideological training, describing it as a positive initiative aimed at building the capacity of councillors and aligning local governance with national policies.
The Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology is named after Herbert Chitepo, a prominent nationalist and former chairperson of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU).
The school focuses on topics such as patriotism, national security, and the history of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare mayor Jacob Mafume went to ZANU PF training, some people are not happy. They say he is betraying the opposition. Other mayors did not go. Critics say Mafume is serving his own interests, not the people. They think it's wrong for him to go to ZANU PF training. But some say the training is good for learning about important things. The training is about the history of Zimbabwe and being loyal to the country. Some people are mad at Mafume for going. They think he should focus on helping the people of Harare instead.

Mafume Slammed For Attending ZANU PF Ideological Training

Controversial political activist Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the Secretary General of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has defended the mandatory two-day ideological training for mayors and local authority chairpersons at ZANU PF’s Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology in Harare.
The compulsory training programme has been condemned by human rights lawyers and civil society groups, who argue that this basic orientation training constitutes a serious violation of constitutional rights, including the rights to impartial and non-partisan administrative conduct, as well as freedom of assembly and association.
However, in an interview with <a href="https://cite.org.zw/tshabangu-backs-controversial-ideology-training-for-mayors-dismisses-recall-fears/">CITE</a>, Tshabangu asserted that the training is a positive initiative aimed at building the capacity of councillors and aligning local governance with national policies.
Tshabangu, known for unilaterally recalling scores of CCC MPs and Councilors, said he does not intend to recall those who boycotted the training. He said:
<blockquote>
I can assure you that there are no plans for recalls, and we are focused on supporting our mayors and council chairpersons in their roles.
This training is part of the government’s efforts to enhance capacity building and align local governance with national policies.
Ultimately, this training enables mayors and council chairpersons to deliver improved services to our communities, aligning with national policies and upholding the principles of good governance for the benefit of our citizens.
We appreciate the Minister of Local Government (and Public Works), Daniel Garwe, for initiating this important initiative.
</blockquote>
Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart and his deputy Edwin Ndlovu did not attend, so the city’s Town Clerk and Finance Director attended in their place.
Early this week, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), representing the Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST), wrote to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, urging it to cancel the basic orientation training for Mayors and Chairpersons running from August 21 to 23, 2024.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Sengezo Tshabangu supports ZANU PF's training for mayors and local leaders to learn about ideology. The training has been criticized by human rights lawyers. Tshabangu says the training is good for building skills and following national policies. He will not punish those who did not attend. The aim is to improve services for communities and promote good governance. Some leaders did not go, so others went in their place. Legal groups want the training cancelled, but Tshabangu and others believe it is important for better governance and service delivery.

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