MDC suspends Mutare mayor, 3 councillors

By Loirdham Moyo

The MDC-T’s national executive has formally suspended Mutare mayor elect, Tatenda Nhamarare, and three other councillors labelled rebels and sell-outs for allegedly colluding to vote for a deputy mayor of the city from rivals, Zanu PF. They are facing charges of misconduct. 

A letter dated September 30, 2013, said to have been authored and signed by party secretary general Tendai Biti, says that the party has suspended Nhamarare along with councillors Farai Bhiza, Pamela Mutari, and Richard Mupfura.

The letter states that the four are being suspended for misconduct relating to council elections held in Mutare sometime in September this year. It is alleged that on September 16 at Mutare city council chambers, a secret ballot was conducted for the election of mayor and deputy mayor for the local authority.

The letter states that, “contrary to the party directive, that Thomas Nyamupanedengu will be elected as mayor and Kudakwashe Chisango would be elected as deputy mayor, you in your individual right, defied the party directive and accepted to be nominated as mayor in your due election as mayor”.

In the letter, Nhamarare is told that the national executive committee of the party in its recent meeting directed that he should be suspended from the MDC-T, pending a disciplinary hearing.

MDC-T Manicaland provincial spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya said he has seen copies of the letter addressed to three party activists.

Nhamarare is accused of defying a lawful order of the party and conduct inconsistent with the fulfillment of the express or implied terms of his membership in the party in that he accepted the nomination of mayor-ship of Mutare on September 16, 2013 against a party directive.

The second charge against Nhamarare is that he brought the party into disrepute and breached the party’s constitution in his capacity as “mayor” as he placed an advert in the local press in which he congratulated President Robert Mugabe for resoundingly winning the harmonized July 31 elections.

The letter indicates that Nhamarare placed the advert fully aware that the MDC-T still believes that the polls were rigged by President Mugabe’s Zanu PF party.

In his letter, Biti advised the four to respond to him forthwith and avail themselves at the party’s harvest house by Monday, October 7, 2013, to answer charges of misconduct.

Party supporters two weeks ago besieged the MDC-T provincial headquarters baying for the blood of the four whom they accused of selling out. The four were only served from harm after police intervened and escorted them out of the party premises.

Nhamarare and the three councillors said they have not yet received the letter from Biti.

Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo has told the MDC-T mayors facing expulsion that he will continue to work with them. Similar witch-hunts are underway in Gweru, Marondera, Redcliff and Kwekwe after MDC councillors cooperated with Zanu PF in electing office holders. VOA