News / National
MDC-T woes as Chikomba Councillor withdraws membership
31 Mar 2013 at 22:43hrs | Views
State media reports that another councillor in Chikomba Rural District Council has dumped the MDC-T, citing undemocratic practices in the party particularly in the selection of candidates to contest harmonised elections scheduled to be held by June 29.
Councillor Chenjerai Chako of Ward Six in Chikomba RDC has since written to the party withdrawing his membership.
He became the fourth MDC-T official in a week to leave the party from Chikomba District.
Another councillor, Amos Razor from Ward Nine, district youth chairperson, Mr Claude Moyo and former chief election agent in Chikomba in the 2008 harmonised polls, Mr Arnold Chidodo also dumped the MDC-T.
In an interview yesterday, Cllr Chako said he had submitted his curriculum vitae seeking to stand in the same ward but was barred by the party.
"I was told that they had reserved the ward for women. My problem is that they should have gone to the people and asked their views through a primary election," said Clr Chako.
"That is dictatorship . . . It is not fair, I have therefore resigned from the party because it no longer serves the purpose for which we had joined it, that of upholding democracy."
Party provincial chairperson, Mr Piniel Denga said his party had not made a decision on who should stand in wards or constituencies.
In leaving the MDC-T, the trio had indicated that they were being victimised for seeking to contest in constituencies that the leadership were also eyeing.
Clr Razor said he was subjected to disciplinary proceedings after he expressed interest to stand in Chikomba West.
He said several disciplinary charges were raised against him to elbow him out.
Mr Chidodo, who was the chief election agent for Mr Morgan Tsvangirai for Chikomba West in the 2008 polls, said he had not received any joy since he expressed his desire to contest in the constituency.
He said his application had been rejected by the provincial executive.
Councillor Chenjerai Chako of Ward Six in Chikomba RDC has since written to the party withdrawing his membership.
He became the fourth MDC-T official in a week to leave the party from Chikomba District.
Another councillor, Amos Razor from Ward Nine, district youth chairperson, Mr Claude Moyo and former chief election agent in Chikomba in the 2008 harmonised polls, Mr Arnold Chidodo also dumped the MDC-T.
In an interview yesterday, Cllr Chako said he had submitted his curriculum vitae seeking to stand in the same ward but was barred by the party.
"I was told that they had reserved the ward for women. My problem is that they should have gone to the people and asked their views through a primary election," said Clr Chako.
Party provincial chairperson, Mr Piniel Denga said his party had not made a decision on who should stand in wards or constituencies.
In leaving the MDC-T, the trio had indicated that they were being victimised for seeking to contest in constituencies that the leadership were also eyeing.
Clr Razor said he was subjected to disciplinary proceedings after he expressed interest to stand in Chikomba West.
He said several disciplinary charges were raised against him to elbow him out.
Mr Chidodo, who was the chief election agent for Mr Morgan Tsvangirai for Chikomba West in the 2008 polls, said he had not received any joy since he expressed his desire to contest in the constituency.
He said his application had been rejected by the provincial executive.
Source - Herald
