Chamisa in embarrassing climbdown

MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa has reportedly been forced to reverse his decision to fire newly-elected Masvingo mayor Advocate Collins Maboke from his post after residents in the country's oldest town threatened to stage protests.

Mr Chamisa recently ordered Adv Maboke to step down, accusing him of supping with Zanu-PF and disregarding a party directive to choose MDC-Alliance Ward 4 Councillor Godfrey Mberikunashe as mayor.

Adv Maboke trounced Clr Mberikunashe by seven votes to four to land the mayoral position in polls marred by post-election violence, which saw even journalists being attacked by the MDC-Alliance thugs.

Adv Maboke was also accused of consorting with Zanu-PF to make sure the ruling party Ward 6 Councillor Wellington Mahwende was chosen  as deputy mayor despite the MDC-Alliance controlling a majority (seven) wards out of 10 in the city.

The MDC-Alliance leader summoned Adv Maboke and chided him for disregarding a party directive on the choice of Masvingo mayor before ordering him to step down in place of Ward 5 Councillor Mberikunashe, who is believed to be Mr Chamisa's relative.

Sources within the party yesterday said Mr Chamisa has since made a volte-face on Adv Maboke, fearing reprisals from restive residents who had threatened to fight in their mayor's corner. MDC-Alliance Masvingo provincial chair Mr James Gumbi yesterday could neither deny nor confirm that Adv Maboke had survived the axe.

"There is no official communication to that effect (that Advocate Maboke will not be forced to step down), but we are just getting such information via informal platforms such as WhatsApp, but nothing official has been communicated to me," he said.

"Furthermore, I want to make it clear that he (Advocate Maboke) was yet to be told officially to step down from his post because the party's lawyers were instructed to first look at the implications of ousting him vis-a-vis provisions of the Urban Councils Act and we are still waiting for the lawyers to come to us so that we make an informed decision," said Mr Gumbi.

Adv Maboke refused to shed light on his status and future as Masvingo mayor.

"It is very unfortunate that I cannot comment about anything regarding that issue. I will only be able to say something at the appropriate time," he said.

The new Masvingo mayor has been performing his mayoral duties since his election despite the order by Mr Chamisa to stand down for his preferred candidate. Adv Maboke is leading efforts to restore water supplies in Masvingo, whose shortage had left the city on the throes of a severe typhoid and cholera outbreak.