MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday threatened to recall and expel defiant party councillors who voted Zanu PF candidates in mayoral elections held throughout the country last Monday.
Staff Reporters
The MDC-T leader would, however, not say how the culprits would be sniffed out since the vote was by secret ballot or if councillors where defiance was shown would be collectively punished.
The threat comes as MDC-T Manicaland provincial leadership met in Mutare yesterday and recommended the expulsion of four party councillors who allegedly voted for Zanu PF’s Collen Mukwada for the position of deputy mayor ahead of the party’s preferred candidate Kudakwashe Chisango.
These include newly-elected mayor Tatenda Nhamarare and three other councillors Richard Mupfura, Farai Bhiza and Pamela Mutare.
Addressing a Press conference at the party’s headquarters in Harare, Tsvangirai said: “The Constitution is very clear. The party has a right of recall. It has a right of recall whether you are a councillor, an MP, when the party feels you are no longer representing its mandate you can be recalled.”
MDC-T Manicaland provincial spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya said prior to the Monday polls, all party councillors had been ordered to elect mayors and deputy mayors from among themselves. In the case of Mutare, the councillors had been directed to elect Thomas Nyamupanedengu as mayor with Chisango as his deputy.
However, Nhamarare allegedly defied the party directive and contested for the mayor’s post which he eventually won.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“We started with an (provincial) executive meeting and all members were present and we deliberated on the conduct of the four councillors who voted for Zanu PF,” said Muchauraya.
“They entered into an unholy alliance with Zanu PF. We are now going back to work on the modalities and the message that came out of the meeting was clear that they should be re-called and then expelled from the party.”
Muchauraya said during the meeting all the 13 councillors, including the four, were given a chance to give their explanation on what transpired at the civic centre.
He added that as soon as the party’s national executive approves their recommendation, they will immediately write to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to conduct by-elections in the affected wards.
Nhamarare declined to comment.
