MDC-T mayor congratulates Mugabe

MDC-T Mutare mayor Tatenda Nhamarare has congratulated President Mugabe for his resounding victory in the July 31 harmonised elections that were declared free, peaceful, fair, credible and representing the will of Zimbabweans.

But, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his Western handlers have refused to concede defeat, claiming the elections were rigged, a development analysts put down to Tsvangirai's attempt to deflect attention from his weaknesses to curry sympathy rather than brickbats from supporters.

The Western-sponsored party's Manicaland provincial committee has since recommended that Nhamarare be expelled from the party after he was voted despite not being the party's preferred candidate.
President Mugabe garnered 61,09 percent of the presidential votes cast, while Tsvangirai managed only 33,94 percent.

Zanu-PF clinched 197 seats in the National Assembly, while MDC-T managed only 70, MDC two, with one independent completing the list.

This left Zanu-PF with well over the two thirds majority in the House.

In his congratulatory message, Nhamarare said he was proud to be associated with President Mugabe and Vice President Joice Mujuru's political leadership.

"The mayor, Councillor T Nhamarare, councillors, council officials and the citizens of the city, would like to express our warm and heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency, the President of the sovereign Republic of Zimbabwe,  R.G Mugabe and indeed the Honourable Vice President  Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru for resoundingly winning the harmonised elections conducted on 31 July 2013," read the statement.

"The citizens of Mutare take great pride to be associated with such outstanding, God-given and principled political leadership with unparalleled contributions to both our struggle for our liberation and focus on nation-building, unity, empowerment for social and economic development.

"We sincerely wish them every success in the quest to indigenise, empower and improve the status of all Zimbabweans as a nation."

In the statement, Nhamarare further said Mutare's vision was to become a viable regional destination and was confident of continuing to play a strategic role in creating an enabling environment conducive for investment and growth.
The mayor yesterday acknowledged the statement, saying it was prepared by his town clerk.

"The congratulatory message was prepared by the town clerk as part of his civil duties. I might be in a position to comment later."

However, the statement will further embarrass Tsvangirai whose other councillors in towns where MDC-T has the majority voted in Zanu-PF mayors.

A witch-hunt is underway in Kwekwe, Redcliff and Victoria Falls where the party intends to sniff out the rebellious councillors with a view to expel them.

Despite winning 13 of the 19 council seats in Mutare, MDC-T's nominated candidates ' Thomas Nyamupanedengu (mayor) and Kudakwashe Chisango (deputy) ' lost the election after Clrs Nhamarare, Richard Mupfura, Pamela Mutare and Farai Bhiza allegedly crossed the floor.

They are accused of joining hands with Zanu-PF's six councillors to elect Nhamarare as the mayor, while Zanu-PF's Ward 15 councillor  Collin Mukwada was elected deputy mayor.

In Gweru, MDC-T councillors rejected the party's preferred candidate for mayor Charles Chikozho and voted in councillor Hamutendi Kombayi.

In Redcliff, three MDC-T councillors voted for Zanu-PF candidate  Freddy Kapuya for the mayoral post after he received five votes against MDC-T's Takura Chikwiri's four in a council in which Zanu-PF has two seats against the MDC-T's seven.

In Kwekwe, Zanu-PF candidate  Matenda Madzoke garnered nine votes against the MDC-T's Aaron Gwalazimba who received five despite the fact that the town has 14 wards evenly split seven apiece between Zanu-PF and MDC-T.

In Victoria Falls, Zanu-PF's Sifiso Mpofu won the race for the top post despite the party having three councillors against MDC-T's seven whose candidate Margaret Valley lost.