MDC-T MP suspended for assaulting a party member

THE MDC-T's Bulawayo provincial executive has suspended Magwegwe MP Anele Ndebele for allegedly assaulting a party member in November 2013.

Ndebele was suspended on Friday and sources said the legislator was a victim of infighting rocking the Bulawayo MDC-T structures.

The MP allegedly assaulted the party's Magwegwe district deputy chairperson Tronix Nyamupingidza in November for reportedly convening a constituency meeting without his knowledge.

The case was reported to police.

Acting Bulawayo MDC-T spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza confirmed Ndebele's suspension in a telephone interview yesterday.

"He has been suspended from conducting any party activities with immediate effect. His suspension is to facilitate investigations into a case of assault that was reported to the party against him," Chirowodza said.

He said the suspended legislator would be summoned to a disciplinary hearing after the finalisation of the investigations.

Chirowodza added that the party was lenient by suspending Ndebele as "under normal circumstances he was supposed to be expelled".

"The message from the party is very clear. We are saying no to violence. In fact, by suspending Ndebele, we were being lenient as being violent against other party members is an offence that carries a penalty of dismissal," Chirowodza added.

However, Ndebele said he had not been informed of his suspension when contacted for comment.

"I have not been informed about my suspension. In any case, I don't see or understand why the party is getting involved in this case which is in court and besides, it (case) did not take place within the premises of the party offices, or during a party meeting," Ndebele explained.

"It was a social matter and had nothing to do with the MDC-T. I was merely defending myself from assault. I should add that my suspension is against constitutionalism that the MDC-T is clamouring for. The party is instead saying it does not respect the courts. They should have waited for the outcome of the court before taking any action."

He charged that his suspension was part of a wider plot to expel him from the party.

"It's all driven by malice. There is a clique that has been pushing for my expulsion from the day I won that seat. The drive to expel me is also heavily informed and influenced by tribalism. It's saddening that we have some party members resorting to tribalism, for example in my case, to fight others. I was born and bred in Magwegwe and I remain focused on finishing my term," Ndebele added.