News / National
16 MDC councillors contest recalls
09 Oct 2020 at 05:24hrs | Views
SIXTEEN MDC Alliance councillors who were recalled last month at the behest of the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC have approached the High Court challenging the decision.
Among the councillors from Harare and Marondera, respectively, are Enock Mupamaonde, Size Vilela, Wonder Siliya, Chengetai Murova, Misheck Manyere, Charles Ngwena, Lovemore Makuwerere, Gilbert Hadebe, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, Simon Mapunzure, Charles Chidhagu, Keith Charumbira, Stephen Dhliwayo, Barnabas Ndira, and Runyowa Chihoma.
They have cited MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, Khupe, chairperson Morgen Komichi, MDC and Local Government minister July Moyo as respondents seeking to have their recalls declared null and void. In an affidavit deposed on behalf of the councillors, Mupamaonde said they were nominated by the MDC Alliance to contest for council seats in Harare and Marondera and won the election.
The court heard on September 11 that the councillors were served with a letter from Moyo indicating that their positions had become vacant.
Moyo is said to have relied on a letter from Khupe which purported that the councillors had been recalled before he directed town clerks to inform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the vacancies which had arisen.
"My co-applicants and I had neither received any correspondence nor advice from any person that we had been expelled from any political party.
"We were never allowed to exercise our right to be heard. "We only learnt of our purported expulsions through the declaration of vacancies," Mupamaonde said.
Mupamaonde added that Moyo should not have interfered with political battles between the MDC and MDC Alliance since he had dealt with them for over two years as councillors.
"Having dealt with us for two-and-a-half years as MDC Alliance, he (Moyo) was stopped and barred from treating us any differently or giving us a new label or name without due process," he added.
"I contend that he could not have descended into a political arena and made a judgment on a clearly contested matter.
His decision and finding that we belong to the MDC-T was a quasi-judicial decision which he is not qualified to make."
The court is yet to set a date for hearing of the case.
Among the councillors from Harare and Marondera, respectively, are Enock Mupamaonde, Size Vilela, Wonder Siliya, Chengetai Murova, Misheck Manyere, Charles Ngwena, Lovemore Makuwerere, Gilbert Hadebe, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, Simon Mapunzure, Charles Chidhagu, Keith Charumbira, Stephen Dhliwayo, Barnabas Ndira, and Runyowa Chihoma.
They have cited MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, Khupe, chairperson Morgen Komichi, MDC and Local Government minister July Moyo as respondents seeking to have their recalls declared null and void. In an affidavit deposed on behalf of the councillors, Mupamaonde said they were nominated by the MDC Alliance to contest for council seats in Harare and Marondera and won the election.
The court heard on September 11 that the councillors were served with a letter from Moyo indicating that their positions had become vacant.
Moyo is said to have relied on a letter from Khupe which purported that the councillors had been recalled before he directed town clerks to inform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the vacancies which had arisen.
"My co-applicants and I had neither received any correspondence nor advice from any person that we had been expelled from any political party.
Mupamaonde added that Moyo should not have interfered with political battles between the MDC and MDC Alliance since he had dealt with them for over two years as councillors.
"Having dealt with us for two-and-a-half years as MDC Alliance, he (Moyo) was stopped and barred from treating us any differently or giving us a new label or name without due process," he added.
"I contend that he could not have descended into a political arena and made a judgment on a clearly contested matter.
His decision and finding that we belong to the MDC-T was a quasi-judicial decision which he is not qualified to make."
The court is yet to set a date for hearing of the case.
Source - Daily News
