'I'm still in charge,' says expelled MDC-T Mayor

MUTARE mayor Councillor Tatenda Nhamarare says he will not lose sleep over recent media reports of his expulsion from his MDC-T party because Local Government administration does not need party political directives in its operations.

MDC-T expelled Clr Nhamharare together with other councillors from the party through the media.

Clr Nhamarare and the councillors in question, who were yet to receive official communication from their party leadership by Wednesday, were reportedly fired for 'indiscipline' and voting against candidates imposed by the party leadership in the July 31 harmonised elections.

The party's national council met last week and resolved to fire Clr Nhemarare.

In an interview at his Civic Centre office on Wednesday, Clr Nhamarare said residents should not be confused by the factional fighting in his party which triggered the latest developments.

"Yes, there could be some developments relating to our expulsion from the MDC-T and I have categorically stated that I will appeal against that decision as provided for in the party's constitution. It should be understood that this is just factionalism at play and there is bound to be a lot of victimisation.

"To show you that the so-called expulsion does not hold water, you are interviewing me in my office as the Mayor of Mutare. Residents must not be confused by these developments because Local Government administration does not need party political directives in its operations.

"I am one person who has dedicated his life to the development of this city by accommodating each and every progressive resident irrespective of their political and religious affiliation," said Clr Nhamarare.

Despite winning 13 of the 19 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 Clr Nhamarare as mayor, while Zanu-PF's Ward 15 councillor Cde Collin Mukwada was elected deputy mayor.

Asked whether they indeed joined hands with Zanu-PF councillors during the said mayoral election, Clr Nhamarare said: "I did not collude with Zanu-PF councillors. The most interesting thing is that everything was done through a secret ballot. The nomination and the election itself were done through secret ballots and I won the election. How then can someone come and accuse me of having voted for so and so when the whole thing was done in secrecy?

"Since the July 31 elections and the run-up to it, a lot of irregularities have occurred in the MDC-T, for which no action was taken simply because every issue is being addressed along factional lines.
 
"We have councillors who won primary elections but were barred from contesting in the July 31 harmonised elections by provincial leaders who refused to sign their nomination papers just because they did not belong to their faction. We had party provincial leaders who openly campaigned for independent candidates against the party's preferred candidates. I can cite my example.

"I was the party's preferred candidate, but some leaders in the province backed a candidate whom I had beaten in the primary elections. These are some of the sad developments emanating from factional fights that have been happening in the MDC-T. Therefore, I am not surprised at all by these developments. Some elements have remained relentless in their efforts to victimise us," he said.