MDC-T launches verbal assault on 'rebellious' councilors

Abednico Bhebhe, the deputy organizing secretary of the MDC-T on Friday launched a blistering attack on rebellious councilors who defied party instructions to vote for Zanu-PF mayors.

In a rare breach of political etiquette, Bhebhe described the councilors who sold out in Mutare, KweKwe, Redcliff and Victoria Falls, as "gullible, stupid and greedy."

The MDC-T MP for Nkayi told SW Radio Africa that the councilors will face the full wrath of the party's disciplinary machinery.

"I don't want to pre-empt or prescribe what would be meted out to the councilors in Victoria Falls but the full weight of our disciplinary capabilities will be applied fully without fear or fervor," Bhebhe said.

He continued: "We are in the process of rebuilding the party and the sooner we get rid of undisciplined cadres the better. We want to get rid of the rot in councils that played a part in our defeat."

Bhebhe believes the councilors, who he claimed allegedly received bribes, thought the Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo would protect them if they got into trouble with the MDC-T.

Chombo in the past blocked or protected any moves by the MDC-T to fire or recall their councilors for engaging in corrupt activities. But under the new constitution, any political party has the right to recall its councilors from the council chambers, an event that will trigger a by-election.

"A person who is both stupid and greedy will always overlook those finer things in the constitution. Most probably some of them did not even read the constitution pertaining to the election and appointment of councilors,

"It's just unfortunate they saw a dollar sign in their faces and they jumped for a dollar without actually applying their minds properly," added Bhebhe.

Already the MDC-T has fired its elected mayor in Mutare, Tatenda Nhambarare together with three other party councilors, for 'conniving' with Zanu-PF in the mayoral elections.

Nhambarare, who was not the MDC-T nominee for the mayor's post, defied party instructions and worked out a deal with Zanu-PF councilors to vote for him as the new mayor.

In return, he and the three other MDC-T councilors voted for a Zanu-PF deputy mayor. The other councilors are Farai Bhiza, Richard Mvura and Pamela Mutare. The party has promised to do the same with councilors in Victoria Falls, KweKwe and Gweru.

Tonderai Samanyanga, a staunch ally of Tsvangirai and chairman of the MDC-T in the UK believes the crisis generated by the mayoral elections should give the party an opportunity to evaluate the way it chooses its candidates.

"The problem created from this week's mayoral elections can be traced to the party primaries. So many candidates offered themselves as candidates hoping the MDC was going to be the next government,

"Since this did not materialize, they decide to work with Zanu-PF for monetary benefits. These people are not following the values set by the MDC-T and they don't know what the party stands for," Samanyanga said.

The MDC-T's former head of intelligence, Solomon Chikohwero said the party leadership, though still reeling from the electoral defeat, has shown effective leadership in dealing with the councilors' scandal.

"The councilors deserve to be dismissed from the party as they have betrayed the people who voted them into council. They were voted there so they could vote for an MDC mayor, so they shouldn't cry foul for what they're facing now," Chikohwero said.