SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
The MDC-T in Redcliff will recall its ‘rebellious’ councilors from office and additionally expel them from the party, after they voted for a ZANU PF mayor. The newly elected MDC-T legislator for Redcliff, Happymore Chidziva said Wednesday that three rebel councilors committed “a cardinal sin by acting contrary to the directives of the party.” In the July 31st elections, the MDC-T won seven council seats in Redcliff, with ZANU PF securing two seats. But in the mayoral elections conducted on Monday, the ZANU PF candidate Freddy Kapuya got five votes, three of which came from MDC-T councilors. Takura Chikwiri, the MDC-T candidate received four seats. As a result of that outcome, the party’s district executive is to convene a meeting in Torwood on Wednesday “to read the riot act” to the councilors and anyone who goes against party rules. Chidziva, who is also the national deputy organizing secretary of the MDC-T Youth Assembly told SW Radio Africa’s Hidden Story program that “it seems they will be serving divorce papers” after a brief ‘marriage’ that only lasted two months. The councilors were voted into office on July 31st and it looks certain that the fate of the three rebels has been sealed by their actions. “We have positively identified two of them. Tonight’s (Wednesday) meeting is meant to fish out the third, although we are clear who it is. The other two told us they did it because of money and pieces of land offered by Kapuya, but we are still to hear from the third why they did it,” said Chidziva. The MP explained that it is a foregone conclusion that they will never be able to work with the rebel councilors and would rather recall them and have by-elections in the town. “If ZANU PF wins the by-elections, then that’s fine with us as that puts our mind to rest knowing truly that the councilors are from that party. What we cannot entertain is having traitors in our midst,” Chidziva explained. He added: “Who knows what would be their next move, perhaps spying on all our meetings and briefing ZANU PF. But one thing is clear, any by-election in Redcliff, the MDC-T will win, so we are not worried by expelling them. We will get genuine party cadres and not power hungry corrupt individuals masquerading as MDC.” Meanwhile in Mutare, Tatenda Nhambarare the shortlived mayor was on Wednesday expelled for collaborating with ZANU PF, according to statement posted on the Facebook page of Pishai Muchauraya, the party spokesman.