A storm is brewing in the Chitungwiza MDC-T provincial executive amid reports leadership is divided over whether or not to take back fired councillors.
Sources told NewsDay a section of the party was pushing for reinstatement of the councillors, while another faction wanted them to keep out on grounds they tarnished the party’s image by engaging in corrupt activities.
Twenty-three councillors, including the mayor of Chitungwiza, were expelled from the party last year on allegations of corruption.
MDC-T provincial chairperson, Alexio Musundire, said the door was open to “reformed councillors”. But party functionaries, who are positioning themselves for seats in the next general elections, are reportedly fighting tooth and nail to keep the councillors out of the system.
Said Musundire: “People should reform and there should be a shift like what the PM (Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai) said at the Chibuku rally recently, that the party will not work with corrupt councillors. As long as they are corrupt, I agree with the PM that they will not be accepted.”
In separate interviews with NewsDay yesterday, the affected councillors said it was in the interest of the party they be reinstated as elections beckon.
“The MDC needs to consolidate its membership and part of the process includes reinstating all expelled members of the party who have something to offer to the party. Two weeks ago, there was a provincial council meeting — the highest decision-making board in the province — that met for six hours at Harvest House and deliberated on the issue. They resolved that expelled councillors be reinstated,” said one of the councillors.
But, a member from the rival faction said: “Last week Tsvangirai made it clear at the rally that corrupt councillors were not welcome in the party. The executive is now divided with the majority indicating that they remain fired since it was the reason why the Magaya-led executive was dissolved and that these councillors were fired for corruption.
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“Now most of the councillors drive 4X4s and own palatial homes in this poverty-stricken town. There is no service delivery in sight,” he said.
