MASVINGO — Gutu Rural District Council chairperson Daniel Jinga has been expelled from the MDC-T after he was found guilty of corruption, the party’s provincial spokesperson, Harrison Mudzuri, has said.
The Ward 38 councillor was expelled alongside Councillor Emmanuel Toperesu (Ward 8) after they were implicated in a scandal over a US$150 000 road maintenance project that was awarded to a Harare company without going to tender.
The two were once arrested, but were pardoned by Local Government, Urban and Rural Development minister Ignatius Chombo. Mudzuri said they were expelled after they were tried and found guilty.
“It is true the pair has been expelled from the party after thorough investigations and a fair hearing,” he said.
“We were left with no option, but to relieve them of their duties as you know that the MDC-T as a party does not condone corruption.”
Mudzuri said the move would send a strong signal to party members that corruption would not be condoned.
Trouble for the pair started on January 17 when they allegedly awarded Fremus Enterprises a contract to repair council roads without going to tender.
The pair is accused of awarding the contract to the Harare-based company after allegedly lying that a full council meeting had agreed to have the tender awarded to them.
