MDC-T's witch-hunt on rebels continues: Another mayor faces the axe

EMBATTLED MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai's supporters continued their witch-hunt of rebel elements recommending the dismissal of newly installed Gweru Mayor Clr Hamutendi Kombayi and 10 councillors.

The development, that comes hard on the heels of the expulsion of newly elected mayor for Mutare and three councillors for rejecting Harvest House's choice for mayor and voting a Zanu-PF candidate as deputy mayor, has raised the spectre of the Ides of October.

The original MDC split on October 12 2005 and the bogey month approaches amidst reports of serious divisions in the party that recently slumped to its worst defeat since 2000.

Witch-hunts are also underway in Kwekwe, Redcliff and Victoria Falls as Tsvangirai loyalists seek to strengthen their hold on the troubled opposition party by flushing out rebel councillors believed to be linked to Project 2016, an anti-Tsvangirai lobby.

Last week, Gweru councillors rejected MDC-T's preferred candidate and voted in Clr Kombayi drawing the ire of the increasingly paranoid MDC-T leader.

Midlands South provincial executive has since recommended the dismissal of 10 councillors in Gweru city on allegations of defying the party's directive to vote for the party's imposed mayoral candidate, Clr Charles Chikozho in the recently held council elections.

The 10 councillors are Gweru mayor, Clr Hamutendi Kombayi of Ward 1, who is also son to the first black Gweru mayor, the late Mr Patrick Kombayi, Artwell Matyorauta of Ward 8, Nokuthula Mbano of Ward 3, Tawanda Magidi of Ward 16, Ernest of Ward 14, Farai Muza of Ward 17, Albert Chirawu of Ward 11, Moses Marecha of Ward 5 and Willard 2nd mayor, 10 clrs face axeNdaguta.

The MDC-T has reportedly recommended the dismissal of one more councillor from Zvishavane, Andrew Nare of Ward 9.

MDC-T Midlands South spokesperson Mr James Tsuro confirmed that the provincial executive had recommended the dismissal of the 10 councillors.

"I confirm that the provincial executive has recommended the dismissal of 10 councillors from Gweru and one from Zvishavane.

"This follows our party's national directive to investigate all councillors in the cities in which the councillors did not vote for the party's preferred candidates.

"We got a directive from our party's secretary-general, Mr Tendai Biti, instructing us to carry out the investigations," he said.

Mr Tsuro said he was confident that the national executive would expel the 11 councillors from the party.

"Our party was trying to avoid the 2008 scenario where councillors were not guided by the party in the selection of mayors.

"It later turned out that some of the voted candidates failed to deliver and execute their mandate duties.

"We are confident that the party will take action against the defiant councillors," he said.

Gweru MDC-T councillors rejected the preferred candidate for the party Clr Chikozho.

They instead voted for a different party councillor, Cllr Kombayi for the mayoral post.

Clr Kombayi would be the second mayor to be dismissed from the MDC-T party after the troubled party dismissed Mutare mayor, Clr Tatenda Nhamarare.

While in other cities MDC-T councillors voted for Zanu-PF candidates for the mayoral posts.

Zanu-PF won Kwekwe, Redcliff and Victoria Falls mayoral contests after MDC-T councillors voted for Zanu-PF candidates Clrs Matenda Madzoke, Freddy Kapuya and Sifiso Mpofu.