by Staff Reporter

Six MDC Alliance Councillors in Bulawayo who defied MDC Alliance`s leader, Nelson Chamisa`s order to elect his anointed Councillor as Mayor of Bulawayo, have vowed that they would not attend the disciplinary hearing.

Chamisa directed Bulawayo Councillors to elect ward 23 Councillor Solomon Mguni as Mayor. However, the Councillors went on to vote for ward 26 Councillor Norman Hlabane who won the poll by 17 votes against Mguni’s 12 votes.

The six Councillors convened a meeting at Shisha Bar this week where they agreed that they would not attend the disciplinary committee. The six are Joyce Ndlovu, Tinashe Kambarami, Ronia Mudara, Norman Hlabani, Lilian Mlilo and Monica Lubimbi.

Addressing the Councillors at the meeting, ward 9 Councillor, Donaldson Mabuto advised the Councillors to disregard the directive to appear before the disciplinary board.

“National Secretary for party building, Farai Chinobva directed that the six councillors must appear before the disciplinary board but I believe our Chairperson (MDC Bulawayo Provincial) Banda (Gift) is misleading the President.”

Mr Chamisa has been imposing his blue eyed Councillors for Mayoral posts in the local authorities. He has so far directed Masvingo, Kadoma and Victoria Falls elected Mayors to step down and pave way for his preferred Councillors. Political analysts say that Chamisa is imposing his preferred candidates ahead of the party`s 2019 congress in order to consolidate his power base. They also say that the MDC Alliance President wants his allies to get the Mayoral posts so that they will channel the council`s revenue to his personal purse.

However, Chamisa`s dictatorial tendency has not gone down well with most Councillors who have vowed to vehemently resist the move. The resistance is likely to see the sacking of many Councillors in different towns, a move that will trigger by elections.