by Innocent Mujeri
The Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T has recalled six Harare councilors and terminated their party membership, as the party continues to weed out officials who are failing to respect its leadership.
Among the recalled councilors is Harare Mayor, Herbert Gomba.
In a letter to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Comrade July Moyo, the MDC-T Secretary General said the recalled councilors have ceased to be members of that party.
“We hereby notify your office in terms of section 278 as read with section 129 of the constitution we hereby declare that the following councilors have ceased to belong to the Movement for Democratic Change which is a member of the Movement for Democratic Alliance which was formed in terms of the constitutive agreement a copy of which is attached hereto. In terms of the agreement ,seven political parties entered into a pre-election agreement known as Composite Political Agreement for purpose of contesting the 2018 elections.
“In terms of the clause 2.0 of the agreement, the member parties retained their individual identities. They also chose their own candidates under their respective quotas. Our party was the party to which these councilors belonged at the time of the 2018 elections. The members listed below have by operation of clause 5.10.a of the constitution of our party, their membership is automatically terminated,” said Mwonzora.
The recalled councilors are Harare Mayor, Herbert Gomba, (Ward 27), Hammy Madzingira (Ward 10), Kudzai Kadzombe (Ward 41), Gaudencia Marere (Ward 32),Costa Mande (Ward 24) and Happymore Gotora (Ward 7).
The six recalled councillors join the list of other four councillors who were recalled and expelled from that party, last month. The four who are Denford Ngadziore of Ward 16, Grisot of Ward 44, Jaison Kautsa of Ward 37 and Tonderai Chakeredza of Ward 31.
The MDC-T has been axing members who refuse to recognize the Supreme Court judgment that declared Dr Khupe, as the interim leader of that party. In April this year, Supreme Court judge Justice Bharat Patel, sitting with Justices Paddington Garwe and Antonia Guvava ruled that Nelson Chamisa was not the legitimate MDC leader in terms of that party’s constitution and subsequently ordered the convening of an extra-ordinary congress, to elect a new president. The decision by the superior court settled the acrimonious MDC leadership wrangle pitting Mr Chamisa and Dr Khupe and set the recalling of legislators and councilors in motion.
