Anxiety as new Mwonzora recalls beckon

Mutare Mayor Blessing Tandi

…as Mwonzora ‘backtracks’ on new purge

Moses
Ziyambi

A letter purportedly signed
by disputed MDC-T secretary general Douglass Mwonzora notifying the Minister of
Local government, Public Works and National Housing of the recall of 87 MDC
Alliance councillors from across the country has triggered new jitters in the
party.

Among those purportedly being recalled
are City of Mutare Mayor Blessing Tandi and seven other councillors from the
city namely Kudakwashe Chisango of Ward 18, Edson Kalulu of Ward 4, Simon  Mapuvire of Ward 5, John Nyamhoka of Ward 17,
Monica Mukwada of Ward 13 and Sophia Gwasira of Ward 8.

In Masvingo, the names of Cllrs
Tarusenga Vhembo (Ward 3) Godfrey Kurauone (Ward 4), Daniel Mberikunashe (Ward
5) and Tafadzwa Musekiwa (Ward 7) are part of the list.

Other local authorities affected include
Chipinge Urban (four councilors), City of Gweru (four councillors), Seke Rural
(two councillors), Chegutu Municipality (three councillors), and Zvishavane
Urban (three councillors).

When contacted to authenticate the
letter, Mwonzora at first sounded hesitant to give a definitive answer, saying
he was not sure if the letter was genuine or not even though he had been told
that the document bore his signature.

He asked that the letter be sent to him
so that he could verify, after which he dismissed the letter as not authentic.

 “You seek to verify the authenticity of
a letter which does not have a logo? No, it’s not authentic. That’s what I can
tell you,” said Mwonzora, even though TellZim saw a copy of the letter which
bears the MDC-T logo and which many sources confirmed as authentic.

One source said the letter was indeed
authentic but the Mwonzora camp was deliberately creating convenient ambiguities
around it as a way of testing the waters.

“The letter was indeed signed by
Mwonzora but he left many gaps including using an old date (30 September) for
his own convenience. He is sending a signal that our time is up unless we bow
down and worship him. It will not happen,” said one affected councillor who
requested anonymity.

Mutare Mayor Tandi said he had not seen
the letter and no official communication on the issue had reached him.

Cllrs Kurauone and Musekiwa said they
saw the letter on social media but no official communication regarding their
anticipated recall had reached them.

Use this link to access related story:

https://tellzim.com/2020/09/mwonzora-axe-hangs-over-masvingo.html