By Staff Reporter

JOSEPH Macheka has been appointed by the local government ministry as chairperson of a commission that will run Chitungwiza following the dissolution of council ahead of the July 30 general elections.

Macheka is a senior Zanu PF official and former mayor for the town.

The appointment was made President Emmerson Mnangagwa and is valid until the swearing-in of a new president and the recently elected councillors.

Other commissioners appointed for Harare’s dormitory town include Irene Chakwizira, a personal assistant at the municipality and Zivai Chisango, the district administrator for Seke.

In a letter to Harare Metropolitan provincial administrator Alfred Tome, secretary for local government George Magosvongwe said Chitungwiza would be presided by the commissioners pending the swearing in of new councillors.

Macheka is the father-in-law to the late MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai. His daughter, Elizabeth was married to the late opposition leader.

In the last elections, the MDC Alliance won in 23 wards with Zanu PF winning in two.

Mnangagwa was expected to be sworn in last Sunday but the inauguration was stopped after the MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa challenged the former’s election victory at the Constitutional Court. The matter is yet to be heard.