News / National
Mutumwa Mawere's political project hangs in the balance
25 Feb 2013 at 05:47hrs | Views
THE future of the United Movement for Democracy (UMD), a newly formed political party, hangs in the balance amid revelations that some of the MDC-T members, who were behind the new project including the party's interim national chairman, Gweru mayor, Clr Tedious Chimombe, are beginning to develop cold feet.
Clr Chimombe, who was fired from the MDC-T party, has been in the forefront canvassing for supporters to join the new UMD party, which is reportedly headed by South African based businessman, Mr Mutumwa Mawere.
Mr Mawere is now a South African citizen and has reportedly been elected to be chairperson of one of the ANC branches.
Some UMD party members conducted a secret meeting at Railton Club on Thursday afternoon with the Gweru mayor and several other Gweru City councilllors, who had initial announced their allegiance with the UMD party conspicuous with their absence.
The only notable "party" members present at the meeting was Councillor for Ward 17, Clr Clemence Kwaru. Clr Kwaru was among the councillors, who were fired by the MDC-T party last year, over allegations of corruption.
Journalists were barred from the meeting, which was dominated by youths, who anticipated getting free T-shirts.
Sources told Chronicle yesterday that the meeting was called by some party officials from Harare, who wanted to inform their Gweru members of the new developments in the party.
The source said the main issue on the agenda was to inform the party's Gweru Chapter on Clr Chimombe's position in the party.
"Clr Chimombe seems to be developing cold feet after the party president, Mr Mawere recently announced that he had joined the African National Congress (ANC) party in South Africa. He (Clr Chimombe) has since been inactive and some officials from Harare had come to try and find out his position," said the source.
The source said Clr Chimombe, however, snubbed the Harare team and did not attend the Thursday meeting. Several efforts to get a comment form Clr Chimombe were fruitless, as he did not answer his mobile phone.
Clr Kwaru, who attended the Thursday UMD party meeting, however, said Clr Chimombe was still the new party's interim chairman.
He said the new project was still in the pipeline and the party's official launch has been moved to Harare.
"The people's project is still on and the party's official launch is now going to be done in Harare. There is no going back. Clr Chimombe is still our interim national chairman. He was occupied with other issues and was not in Gweru. This is why he did not attend the meeting. The party will hold a press conference in Harare on Wednesday next week and that is when you guys from the media will get to know our structures," he said.
Clr Chimombe, who was fired from the MDC-T party, has been in the forefront canvassing for supporters to join the new UMD party, which is reportedly headed by South African based businessman, Mr Mutumwa Mawere.
Mr Mawere is now a South African citizen and has reportedly been elected to be chairperson of one of the ANC branches.
Some UMD party members conducted a secret meeting at Railton Club on Thursday afternoon with the Gweru mayor and several other Gweru City councilllors, who had initial announced their allegiance with the UMD party conspicuous with their absence.
The only notable "party" members present at the meeting was Councillor for Ward 17, Clr Clemence Kwaru. Clr Kwaru was among the councillors, who were fired by the MDC-T party last year, over allegations of corruption.
Journalists were barred from the meeting, which was dominated by youths, who anticipated getting free T-shirts.
The source said the main issue on the agenda was to inform the party's Gweru Chapter on Clr Chimombe's position in the party.
"Clr Chimombe seems to be developing cold feet after the party president, Mr Mawere recently announced that he had joined the African National Congress (ANC) party in South Africa. He (Clr Chimombe) has since been inactive and some officials from Harare had come to try and find out his position," said the source.
The source said Clr Chimombe, however, snubbed the Harare team and did not attend the Thursday meeting. Several efforts to get a comment form Clr Chimombe were fruitless, as he did not answer his mobile phone.
Clr Kwaru, who attended the Thursday UMD party meeting, however, said Clr Chimombe was still the new party's interim chairman.
He said the new project was still in the pipeline and the party's official launch has been moved to Harare.
"The people's project is still on and the party's official launch is now going to be done in Harare. There is no going back. Clr Chimombe is still our interim national chairman. He was occupied with other issues and was not in Gweru. This is why he did not attend the meeting. The party will hold a press conference in Harare on Wednesday next week and that is when you guys from the media will get to know our structures," he said.
Source - TC
