Harare, Zimbabwe | Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has alleged that he is being targeted and has received death threats following his exposure of corruption at the Justice Maphios Chedaled commission of inquiry.
Mafume claims that Matthew Marara, the executive assistant to the town clerk, has issued threats against him in an attempt to silence him.
Speaking to journalists, Mafume revealed that he has evidence of the threats on his phone, expressing deep concern for his safety and that of his family. He alleged that Marara has openly boasted of being protected by powerful figures, making him untouchable.
“Yes, I can confirm that I have received death threats from Marara. He knows where I live, and I am not only afraid for myself but also for my family. He even claims to have protection from authorities, so he believes nothing can be done to him,” Mafume stated.
In the threatening messages, Marara accuses Mafume of using him as a pawn in his conflicts, particularly in his dispute with the late head of district administration, Fani Machipisa. Machipisa, who passed away late last year, had a fallout with Mafume over the allocation of stands, which some believe placed him in a vulnerable position.
Marara ominously referenced former Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba, suggesting that Gomba also clashed with him and suffered dire consequences, ultimately losing his position at Town House.
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“It will not end well, good afternoon. Gomba used to do that, and what was the end result? Peace is important. Remember what I told you in your office in Belvedere when Gomba got me arrested? I cannot be beaten and continue watching,” one of the messages allegedly read.
Marara also sent a cryptic and disturbing message, appearing to warn Mafume of brutal retaliation: “You used me to deal with Machipisa, and now you repay me by turning the gun on me. Soldiers entered a village and raped the entire woman (sic), except one who resisted the soldier, killed him, and cut off his head.”
The threats against Mafume come amid ongoing efforts to root out corruption within the city, raising suspicions that powerful individuals are seeking to intimidate and eliminate those exposing wrongdoing.
With Marara allegedly enjoying protection from influential backers, Mafume’s fears for his safety appear justified. The situation underscores the risks faced by public officials attempting to fight corruption in an environment where accountability remains elusive
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