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NewsDay

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MDC-T councillors vow to resist proposals to vacate seats

Politics
MDC-T councillors have vowed to resist proposals to withdraw from local authorities as part of the main opposition party’s “strategic” campaign to force Zanu PF out of power for failing to run the economy.

MDC-T councillors have vowed to resist proposals to withdraw from local authorities as part of the main opposition party’s “strategic” campaign to force Zanu PF out of power for failing to run the economy.

BY MOSES MATENGA

There is talk underway in the MDC-T to call all its remaining MPs and elected councillors to withdraw from Parliament and councils respectively so that they start mobilising for the 2018 elections.

Councillors who spoke to NewsDay yesterday said there was no reason for the party to even suggest that move as it would mean the end of the MDC-T.

One councillor said although there had been no communication on the proposal yet, the officials pushing the idea behind the scenes were “dreaming”.

“Withdrawing from zones of autonomy isn’t the best thing to do. We can withdraw from Harare, Bulawayo or Mutare, for example, but that will be a disservice to the people. If I were the party leader (Morgan Tsvangirai), I would maintain the status quo. We participated in the election and we can’t now say, let’s go out of office,” the councillor said.

Council chief whip for Harare Peter Moyo said he could not comment as there was no position communicated to city fathers regarding the issue of withdrawing from Town House.

However, sources aware of the intended move, said plans to withdraw from Parliament and council were being orchestrated by forces outside the two institutions. “Those calling for that are outside Parliament or council and their argument is not a progressive one,” another councillor said.

Last month, the MDC-T, in its national council meeting, received proposals for pulling out from Parliament and councils to pile more pressure on Zanu PF.

MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday said: “The idea is still under debate. Only the national council has the constitutional mandate to make an appropriate resolution. To date, no resolution has been made.”