News / National
MDC-T councillors and party officials clash during council meeting
20 Sep 2013 at 03:21hrs | Views
THE first special council meeting to elect the chairman for the Rusape Town Council almost ended in turmoil as MDC-T councillors and party representatives quarreled among themselves, giving Zanu-PF the control of the local authority.
Zanu-PF and MDC-T have five councillors each, but lack of strategic thinking on part of the latter gave Zanu-PF the powerful positions of chairman and deputy chair.
Alderman Amon Chawasarira bounced back to assume the chair after a five-year sabbatical and will be deputised by Clr Everisto Manyengavana.
Clr Chawasarira won by eight votes against two for MDC-T nominee, Clr Lyton Sithole after the first round had ended in a tie. The councillors had voted on party lines.
The same trend repeated itself in the election of the vice-chairperson, with MDC-T nominee, Clr Violet Sibanda and Zanu-PF's Clr Everisto Manyengavana getting five votes each.
It was after the tie that the presiding officer and Makoni District Administrator, Mr William Mashava, advised the 10 councillors that voting would go into a run-off and eventually the tossing of a coin if no winners emerged.
The councilors and party representatives were asked to troop out of the chamber to discuss and agree on a common position to avoid the last option.
It was agreed that Zanu-PF takes the chairpersonship, while the MDC-T takes the deputy chairperson slot. Zanu-PF stuck with Alderman Chawasarira, while MDC-T sacrificed their vice-chair nominee Clr Sibanda and replaced her with Clr Sithole.
To prove that the parties were not sincere in their negotiations, Alderman Chawasarira polled eight votes while Clr Sithole polled two, which means two MDC-T councillors did not vote as agreed.
Mr Mashava was forced to stamp his authority and ordered a re-election for the vice-chair's post after it had emerged that Clr Sithole, who was not a nominated candidate in that category had amass most votes.
"The nominees for the vice-chairperson are Clr Sibanda and Clr Manyengavana and if you have agreed as you have indicated, you must then vote for Clr Sibanda, not Clr Sithole. You cannot have one person being voted for in two categories. That is unacceptable," said Mr Mashava.
This did not go down well with Clr Sithole, who argued: "Why did you ask us to go out and negotiate. We have agreed on the positions to be taken by the two parties, not personalities. Zanu-PF was given the chair and they settled for Clr Chawasarira and in the same vein the MDC-T has settled for me as the deputy chair. If you refuse that position and insisting on Clr Sibanda, then you are dictating and influencing the result. You have no right to dispute what we have agreed on. The chair and the vice positions were voted for once, and its either all the results are nullified or accepted as they are. If you decide to nullify, then we are ready for the tossing of the coin," fumed Clr Sithole, but Mr Mashava refused to budge arguing that once a nomination has been done it becomes final.
Clr Sithole turned his attacks on MDC-T provincial member, Mr Teddy Chipere, accusing of asking MDC-T councillors to heed Mr Mashava's calls and revert to the initial plan to vote for Clr Sibanda.
"Are you a councillor? Do not say things that you do not know. Iwe shamwari, iwe, iweka. I am not going to vote, this process is already flawed. Why do you trust these people?" he said pointing a finger at him.
Zanu-PF, with the chairman position already in the bag had nothing to lose and exploited the confusion to punish the MDC-T with its five councillors voting for their candidate Clr Manyengavana, while the MDC-T councilors, minus Clr Sithole voted for Clr Sibanda.
Earlier on Clr David Matambura Mutasa was re-elected the chairman for Makoni Rural District Council after beating fellow Zanu-PF rivals, Clrs Timothy Makoni and Taurai Chiripamberi.
Clr Mutasa will be deputised by Alderman Shylet Matsangura.The elections proceeded without any incidents. In Nyanga, Clr Moses Gutu was elected the chairman, while his losing rival Clr Zacheous Bangwayo became his deputy.
Zanu-PF and MDC-T have five councillors each, but lack of strategic thinking on part of the latter gave Zanu-PF the powerful positions of chairman and deputy chair.
Alderman Amon Chawasarira bounced back to assume the chair after a five-year sabbatical and will be deputised by Clr Everisto Manyengavana.
Clr Chawasarira won by eight votes against two for MDC-T nominee, Clr Lyton Sithole after the first round had ended in a tie. The councillors had voted on party lines.
The same trend repeated itself in the election of the vice-chairperson, with MDC-T nominee, Clr Violet Sibanda and Zanu-PF's Clr Everisto Manyengavana getting five votes each.
It was after the tie that the presiding officer and Makoni District Administrator, Mr William Mashava, advised the 10 councillors that voting would go into a run-off and eventually the tossing of a coin if no winners emerged.
The councilors and party representatives were asked to troop out of the chamber to discuss and agree on a common position to avoid the last option.
It was agreed that Zanu-PF takes the chairpersonship, while the MDC-T takes the deputy chairperson slot. Zanu-PF stuck with Alderman Chawasarira, while MDC-T sacrificed their vice-chair nominee Clr Sibanda and replaced her with Clr Sithole.
To prove that the parties were not sincere in their negotiations, Alderman Chawasarira polled eight votes while Clr Sithole polled two, which means two MDC-T councillors did not vote as agreed.
Mr Mashava was forced to stamp his authority and ordered a re-election for the vice-chair's post after it had emerged that Clr Sithole, who was not a nominated candidate in that category had amass most votes.
"The nominees for the vice-chairperson are Clr Sibanda and Clr Manyengavana and if you have agreed as you have indicated, you must then vote for Clr Sibanda, not Clr Sithole. You cannot have one person being voted for in two categories. That is unacceptable," said Mr Mashava.
This did not go down well with Clr Sithole, who argued: "Why did you ask us to go out and negotiate. We have agreed on the positions to be taken by the two parties, not personalities. Zanu-PF was given the chair and they settled for Clr Chawasarira and in the same vein the MDC-T has settled for me as the deputy chair. If you refuse that position and insisting on Clr Sibanda, then you are dictating and influencing the result. You have no right to dispute what we have agreed on. The chair and the vice positions were voted for once, and its either all the results are nullified or accepted as they are. If you decide to nullify, then we are ready for the tossing of the coin," fumed Clr Sithole, but Mr Mashava refused to budge arguing that once a nomination has been done it becomes final.
Clr Sithole turned his attacks on MDC-T provincial member, Mr Teddy Chipere, accusing of asking MDC-T councillors to heed Mr Mashava's calls and revert to the initial plan to vote for Clr Sibanda.
"Are you a councillor? Do not say things that you do not know. Iwe shamwari, iwe, iweka. I am not going to vote, this process is already flawed. Why do you trust these people?" he said pointing a finger at him.
Zanu-PF, with the chairman position already in the bag had nothing to lose and exploited the confusion to punish the MDC-T with its five councillors voting for their candidate Clr Manyengavana, while the MDC-T councilors, minus Clr Sithole voted for Clr Sibanda.
Earlier on Clr David Matambura Mutasa was re-elected the chairman for Makoni Rural District Council after beating fellow Zanu-PF rivals, Clrs Timothy Makoni and Taurai Chiripamberi.
Clr Mutasa will be deputised by Alderman Shylet Matsangura.The elections proceeded without any incidents. In Nyanga, Clr Moses Gutu was elected the chairman, while his losing rival Clr Zacheous Bangwayo became his deputy.
Source - Manicapost
