News / Regional
MDC-T threatens to fire councillors linked to Tendai Biti
03 Jun 2014 at 06:29hrs | Views
MDC-T national secretary for local government Blessing Chebundo has threatened to expel councillors in Kwekwe with alleged links to "fired" secretary-general Tendai Biti.
Chebundo warned councillors that they risked being recalled if they continued to associate themselves with Mbizo constituency MP Settlement Chikwinya who has openly aligned himself with Biti.
"I want to warn those who are associating themselves with Chikwinya to stop doing that because as the secretary of local government in the MDC-T, I have the power to recall councillors who are no longer part of us," he said.
Four councillors from Mbizo constituency were allegedly barred from entering a Midlands North provincial council meeting held at the party offices on Saturday.
Councillor Weston Masiya said he was manhandled as he attempted to gain entry into the meeting with some supporters pulling his jacket.
"It was an unfortunate incident because I am not Chikwinya and neither do I support his position. That I come from the same constituency with him does not mean he is my father," he said.
MDC-T provincial secretary Felix Zifunze said he had not witnessed the fracas, but had been told that some members of the party who came from Mbizo were wearing regalia with Chikwinya's face.
"As you are aware Chikwinya is no longer part of the MDC-T and when people come wearing regalia which has his name, that is provocation," he said.
Sources in the party allege that Chikwinya has been busy holding meetings with councillors and other party members in an effort to set up structures for the MDC-Team led by Biti.
Chikwinya dismissed the claims saying he had not held any meeting which should concern members of the MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai.
"Those guys have their own faction and I belong to my own faction.
"They should just leave me alone because I have not even gone to them," he said.
Chebundo warned councillors that they risked being recalled if they continued to associate themselves with Mbizo constituency MP Settlement Chikwinya who has openly aligned himself with Biti.
"I want to warn those who are associating themselves with Chikwinya to stop doing that because as the secretary of local government in the MDC-T, I have the power to recall councillors who are no longer part of us," he said.
Four councillors from Mbizo constituency were allegedly barred from entering a Midlands North provincial council meeting held at the party offices on Saturday.
Councillor Weston Masiya said he was manhandled as he attempted to gain entry into the meeting with some supporters pulling his jacket.
"It was an unfortunate incident because I am not Chikwinya and neither do I support his position. That I come from the same constituency with him does not mean he is my father," he said.
MDC-T provincial secretary Felix Zifunze said he had not witnessed the fracas, but had been told that some members of the party who came from Mbizo were wearing regalia with Chikwinya's face.
"As you are aware Chikwinya is no longer part of the MDC-T and when people come wearing regalia which has his name, that is provocation," he said.
Sources in the party allege that Chikwinya has been busy holding meetings with councillors and other party members in an effort to set up structures for the MDC-Team led by Biti.
Chikwinya dismissed the claims saying he had not held any meeting which should concern members of the MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai.
"Those guys have their own faction and I belong to my own faction.
"They should just leave me alone because I have not even gone to them," he said.
Source - Southern Eye
