News / Local
MDC-T councillors defy party orders, elects Welshman's councilor
23 Feb 2012 at 14:01hrs | Views
MDC-T infighting within Bulawayo councillors has intensified as some councillors continue to defy the party's orders on election of chairpersons of committees. On Tuesday, the councillors voted an unsanctioned candidate into the position of chairperson for the environmental management and engineering committee.
The councillors elected Councillor Martin Moyo of Ward 3, instead of the party's choice, Ward 20's Clr Earnest Rafamoyo.
This is the third time in three weeks that the councillors have rebelled against the party on the issue.
Two weeks ago, councillors openly defied the party and voted Ward 25's Clr Edward Ndlovu into the powerful Finance and Development Committee, instead of the party's choice, Clr James Sithole of Ward 7.
They also elected Clr Ngwalo Nyathi of the Professor Welshman Ncube led MDC as deputy chairperson of the Future Water Supplies and Water Action Committee.
This was also against an agreement at a meeting held at the MDC-T Bulawayo provincial headquarters, to exclude MDC councillors from all posts that were up for grabs.
Of the 28 councillors in the city, 24 are from the MDC-T while the remaining four are from MDC.
A number of councillors who were removed from the posts that are being voted for are reportedly lobbying fellow councillors to defy the party directive.
"These councillors are acting like children. They are causing chaos just because they were removed from their positions. It has always been council policy to elect new chairpersons every year in August and these guys have not been rotated since 2008. They should grow up and stop causing problems for everyone," said a councillor, who was present during the voting.
Another councillor said Clr Nduna Dladla, the former Finance and Development Committee chairperson reportedly castigated the MDC-T during a closed-door council meeting recently.
He reportedly said the party's suggestion for them to vote for certain councillors was "nonsense" and it was absurd for the party to suggest that they should not work with the other MDC.
The Deputy Mayor, Clr Amen Mpofu, who chaired the meeting reportedly asked him to apologise for the outburst and withdraw his remark, but he refused.
Clr Dladla could not be reached for comment.
However, Clr Mpofu confirmed the outburst.
"It was an unfortunate statement really. I think it is important not to bring the party into council issues," said Clr Mpofu.
The councillors have boycotted several meetings called by the party's leadership.
Ward 6's Clr Jennifer Bent moved the motion that resulted in the scramble for the influential chairpersons' positions.
Chairpersons of council's standing committees become members of the General Purposes (GP) Committee and are entitled to perks that include all expense paid trips and attractive subsistence allowances.
Clr Bent's motion resulted in the removal of chairpersons who had been holding the posts since the present crop of councillors came into office in 2008.
Spirited opposition by incumbent councillors resulted in the motion being pushed forward several times.
The councillors are still to vote for the audit committee chairperson.
The councillors elected Councillor Martin Moyo of Ward 3, instead of the party's choice, Ward 20's Clr Earnest Rafamoyo.
This is the third time in three weeks that the councillors have rebelled against the party on the issue.
Two weeks ago, councillors openly defied the party and voted Ward 25's Clr Edward Ndlovu into the powerful Finance and Development Committee, instead of the party's choice, Clr James Sithole of Ward 7.
They also elected Clr Ngwalo Nyathi of the Professor Welshman Ncube led MDC as deputy chairperson of the Future Water Supplies and Water Action Committee.
This was also against an agreement at a meeting held at the MDC-T Bulawayo provincial headquarters, to exclude MDC councillors from all posts that were up for grabs.
Of the 28 councillors in the city, 24 are from the MDC-T while the remaining four are from MDC.
A number of councillors who were removed from the posts that are being voted for are reportedly lobbying fellow councillors to defy the party directive.
"These councillors are acting like children. They are causing chaos just because they were removed from their positions. It has always been council policy to elect new chairpersons every year in August and these guys have not been rotated since 2008. They should grow up and stop causing problems for everyone," said a councillor, who was present during the voting.
Another councillor said Clr Nduna Dladla, the former Finance and Development Committee chairperson reportedly castigated the MDC-T during a closed-door council meeting recently.
The Deputy Mayor, Clr Amen Mpofu, who chaired the meeting reportedly asked him to apologise for the outburst and withdraw his remark, but he refused.
Clr Dladla could not be reached for comment.
However, Clr Mpofu confirmed the outburst.
"It was an unfortunate statement really. I think it is important not to bring the party into council issues," said Clr Mpofu.
The councillors have boycotted several meetings called by the party's leadership.
Ward 6's Clr Jennifer Bent moved the motion that resulted in the scramble for the influential chairpersons' positions.
Chairpersons of council's standing committees become members of the General Purposes (GP) Committee and are entitled to perks that include all expense paid trips and attractive subsistence allowances.
Clr Bent's motion resulted in the removal of chairpersons who had been holding the posts since the present crop of councillors came into office in 2008.
Spirited opposition by incumbent councillors resulted in the motion being pushed forward several times.
The councillors are still to vote for the audit committee chairperson.
Source - chronicle
