by Staff reporter
The MDC-T National Chairman, Morgan Komichi, has allegedly taken a bribe of an undisclosed amount from an MDC-Alliance benefactor to spare Gweru City Mayor, Josiah Makumbe from recalling, the Harare Post can report.
A source within the MDC-T confided in this publication that a list of Gweru councillors earmarked for recalling had been drawn. Mayor Makumbe had also been shortlisted for recall before end of this month.
The source said the recall of Makumbe was then halted after one Aaron Chinhara, a well-known MDC-Alliance benefactor and owner of Glow Petroleum Trading (Private) Limited reached out to Komichi and begged him to spare Makumbe.
Chinhara is believed to have offered Komichi an undisclosed amount in US dollars and pledged to refuel Komichi’s vehicles, whenever he needs fuel.
“The intended recall of Makumbe was halted after Chinhara approached Komichi. It is believed that Chinhara gave Komichi an undisclosed amount of US dollars and promised more money if Makumbe was protected. Makumbe has eventually been removed from the list of the councillors to be recalled,” said the source.
The source further revealed that the recall of Makumbe was going to jeopardize Chinhara’s business interests in Gweru as the latter was using his relationship with Makumbe to get business stands in Gweru for a song.
It is also alleged that Chinhara bankrolled, the MDC-Alliance campaigns in the run-up to the 2018 harmonised elections and that party’s leadership resolved to thank Chinhara with business stands in towns controlled by MDC-Alliance councillors.
The source also said that Chinhara, who has plans to establish a fuel station in Gweru, was obliged to pay Makumbe’s protection fees to safeguard a 7 341 Square metres business stand, he was offered by the MDC-A through Makumbe as a token of appreciation.
The source further said Chinhara got the industrial stand, which is next to OK Mart supermarket for free.
However, it is also alleged that some councillors got wind of this deal and are now demanding that the protection fee must cover all of them. These councillors argue that they all played a part in safeguarding Chinhara’s business interests in the city.
The MDC councillors and legislators are living in fear of being recalled after the Supreme Court ruled in March, this year that Nelson Chamisa was an illegitimate leader of the opposition outfit.
The MDC-run councils are allegedly using council land to further the party’s political interests. There are allegations that proceeds from the sale of council land are used to fund MDC-A activities. Herbert Gomba, the ousted Harare mayor, several councillors and some council workers were recently arrested in connection with illicit land deals.
