News / National
MDC-T dispatches disciplinary team to deal with defiant councillors
02 Oct 2013 at 03:23hrs | Views
THE MDC-T is dispatching a three-member disciplinary committee in areas where some of its elected councillors defied the party's directive and voted for Zanu-PF candidates for the position of mayor.
Besides winning the majority in Redcliff, Victoria Falls and Mutare, MDC-T councillors defied the party directive and went on to elect Zanu PF councillors.
MDC-T national spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said the party's national executive council had resolved to send a disciplinary committee to deal with those fingered in the matter.
In Mutare, the newly-elected mayor Tatenda Nhamarare (MDC-T) is alleged to have connived with three other councillors to form a pact with Zanu PF.
The alleged pact saw Nhamarare becoming the new mayor ahead of the party's preferred candidate Thomas Nyamupanedengu.
In turn Nhamarare and the three councillors are alleged to have voted Collen Mukwada from Zanu PF as the deputy mayor.
Contrary to a statement by MDC-T's Manicaland provincial spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya, cateregorically stating the four had been expelled from the party, Mwonzora said the hearings were yet to begin.
"The correct position is that the provincial council can suspend councillors and recommend dismissal or any other appropriate punishment hence the Manicaland province has recommended dismissal," he said.
"Pursuant to that recommendation the national executive appointed a three-member disciplinary committee comprising MPs Shepard Mushonga as the chair, then Sibusisiwe Bhuda-Masara and Senator James Makore to conduct a disciplinary hearing for the councillors concerned.
"In Mutare, it is mostly the mayor himself who is subject to disciplinary hearing.
"The three councillors are still being investigated and have not been disciplined yet.
"The MDC is a party that believes in due process. We will only expel people from the party after hearing them because we are a party of justice."
MDC-T accused Zanu PF officials of bribing its councilors to vote for the ruling party's candidates in the polls held over a fortnight ago.
Besides winning the majority in Redcliff, Victoria Falls and Mutare, MDC-T councillors defied the party directive and went on to elect Zanu PF councillors.
MDC-T national spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said the party's national executive council had resolved to send a disciplinary committee to deal with those fingered in the matter.
In Mutare, the newly-elected mayor Tatenda Nhamarare (MDC-T) is alleged to have connived with three other councillors to form a pact with Zanu PF.
The alleged pact saw Nhamarare becoming the new mayor ahead of the party's preferred candidate Thomas Nyamupanedengu.
In turn Nhamarare and the three councillors are alleged to have voted Collen Mukwada from Zanu PF as the deputy mayor.
"The correct position is that the provincial council can suspend councillors and recommend dismissal or any other appropriate punishment hence the Manicaland province has recommended dismissal," he said.
"Pursuant to that recommendation the national executive appointed a three-member disciplinary committee comprising MPs Shepard Mushonga as the chair, then Sibusisiwe Bhuda-Masara and Senator James Makore to conduct a disciplinary hearing for the councillors concerned.
"In Mutare, it is mostly the mayor himself who is subject to disciplinary hearing.
"The three councillors are still being investigated and have not been disciplined yet.
"The MDC is a party that believes in due process. We will only expel people from the party after hearing them because we are a party of justice."
MDC-T accused Zanu PF officials of bribing its councilors to vote for the ruling party's candidates in the polls held over a fortnight ago.
Source - southerneye
