SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
Ian Kay, the former MDC-T MP for Marondera, has been given a five-year ban from politics by his provincial executive in Mashonaland East, for recently suggesting that Morgan Tsvangirai should resign. The Mash East provincial executive met this week to decide Kay’s fate, but the decision to suspend him for five years is being viewed in party circles as harsh. The suspension came despite the fact that party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora last month announced they had amicably resolved their differences with Kay. The former legislator’s comments two months ago left the party in turmoil, when he reportedly told the media that the MDC-T was like a ‘soccer team’ and ‘if the coach continues losing, there is need for the technical board to sit down and deal with the issue.’ He continued: ‘There is need to plan ahead before the ship sinks and if there is need to change the coach, then let it be. Or should I say it is like a rusty bolt? There is need for it to be removed and replaced with a new one rather than leave it like that.’ Kay, who insists his comments were taken out of context, said he will need to study the verdict of the disciplinary outcome before commenting on the suspension. Last month Mwonzora, following a one-on-one discussion he had with Kay, recommended to the party that the matter concerning the comments be regarded as resolved. A senior member of the party who sits on the standing committee told us he was taken aback by the decision to ban Kay, suggesting there could be more behind the suspension. ‘I don’t think as a party we will allow ourselves to settle personal differences this way, but let’s wait until we get the report and study it before saying anything else,’ the official said. Political commentator Dr Maxwell Shumba told SW Radio Africa that the decision to ban Kay is misguided, as it is not a crime to discuss leadership renewal in the party. ‘I think the provincial leadership needs guidance on what to do following the elections, instead of focusing on settling old scores, they should be fortifying their structures and forging unity amongst the warring individuals concerned,’ Shumba said. He added: ‘They are concentrating on the wrong issues, petty things that do not bring ZANU PF down. They should be looking at ways of beating ZANU PF in the next election instead of dealing with minor issues.’↧