News / National
Fired Zanu-PF Cllrs allege persecution
24 Nov 2018 at 14:58hrs | Views
The ruling Zanu-PF party has recalled two of its councillors while one was heavily cautioned for ‘donating' the Chiredzi Town Council chairperson and deputy chairperson posts to the opposition while the ruling party has a majority.
Chiredzi town has a total of eight wards; four of which went to Zanu-PF, three to MDC Alliance and one went to an independent councillor in the July 30 elections.
The Zanu-PF councillors found themselves in the eye of the storm when they let the MDC Alliance land the chairperson post deputised by an independent councillor.
After the debacle, the four Zanu-PF councillors were suspended pending investigations by the provincial disciplinary committee which deliberated and resolved to recall two councillors whom are believed to have voted for the opposition.
Presenting the resolutions before a Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) last Sunday, provincial secretary for administration, Ailes Baloyi said investigations from the disciplinary committee found two councillors guilty.
"The province has resolved to recall Obert Ngwenya and Josphat Nzombe from the party paving way for by-elections.
"We found out that these two have worked in connivance with the opposition and as a party that believes in principles, we cannot tolerate indiscipline. We would rather go for a by-election than keep people who have double standards in the party," said Baloyi.
Zanu-PF has also cautioned Liberty Macharaga while Blessing Mazinyani was exonerated of any wrong doing.
When contacted for comment, Ngwenya told TellZim News that charges against him were baseless because he did everything that he was told to do by the party.
"I am yet to get formal communication on the matter but to tell you the truth, I never betrayed the party. I did all I was told. I wanted to be the council chairperson and they told me to step aside and pave way for another and I did exactly that.
"They told me to stand for the chairperson post in the housing committee and I did and won. All those allegations against me are false. Maybe, there are other reasons behind but not the ones they are telling people.
"Is it a crime to mobilise people for a vote? Every vote comes through mobilisation and I don't see how that is a crime. I think there are only a few interested people in our party who don't want me as the housing committee chairperson because they know I will block all their land deals.
"I love my party and I will not defy their directives. I will not join any other party and will never be an independent," said Ngwenya.
An equally similar incident happened in Masvingo urban where MDC Alliance controls seven out of the ten wards but voted for a Zanu-PF councillor as the deputy mayor.
MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has since ordered mayor Collen Maboke to step down for having defied the party directive and making a deal with Zanu-PF.
Nzombe could not be reached for comment as his phone could not get through by the time of going to print.
Chiredzi town has a total of eight wards; four of which went to Zanu-PF, three to MDC Alliance and one went to an independent councillor in the July 30 elections.
The Zanu-PF councillors found themselves in the eye of the storm when they let the MDC Alliance land the chairperson post deputised by an independent councillor.
After the debacle, the four Zanu-PF councillors were suspended pending investigations by the provincial disciplinary committee which deliberated and resolved to recall two councillors whom are believed to have voted for the opposition.
Presenting the resolutions before a Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) last Sunday, provincial secretary for administration, Ailes Baloyi said investigations from the disciplinary committee found two councillors guilty.
"The province has resolved to recall Obert Ngwenya and Josphat Nzombe from the party paving way for by-elections.
"We found out that these two have worked in connivance with the opposition and as a party that believes in principles, we cannot tolerate indiscipline. We would rather go for a by-election than keep people who have double standards in the party," said Baloyi.
Zanu-PF has also cautioned Liberty Macharaga while Blessing Mazinyani was exonerated of any wrong doing.
"I am yet to get formal communication on the matter but to tell you the truth, I never betrayed the party. I did all I was told. I wanted to be the council chairperson and they told me to step aside and pave way for another and I did exactly that.
"They told me to stand for the chairperson post in the housing committee and I did and won. All those allegations against me are false. Maybe, there are other reasons behind but not the ones they are telling people.
"Is it a crime to mobilise people for a vote? Every vote comes through mobilisation and I don't see how that is a crime. I think there are only a few interested people in our party who don't want me as the housing committee chairperson because they know I will block all their land deals.
"I love my party and I will not defy their directives. I will not join any other party and will never be an independent," said Ngwenya.
An equally similar incident happened in Masvingo urban where MDC Alliance controls seven out of the ten wards but voted for a Zanu-PF councillor as the deputy mayor.
MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has since ordered mayor Collen Maboke to step down for having defied the party directive and making a deal with Zanu-PF.
Nzombe could not be reached for comment as his phone could not get through by the time of going to print.
Source - TellZim
