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| Douglas Mwonzora and Nelson Chamisa (File Pic) |
Upenyu Chaota
MDC-T
secretary general Douglas Mwonzora has warned Members of Parliament (MPs) and
councilors who won their seats under the MDC Alliance in the 2018 harmonised
elections that they should desist from making suicidal political decisions
motivated by blind loyalty for Nelson Chamisa.
Mwonzora
told TellZim News that no one is being victimized under the current wave of
recalls but they are only targeting those who pledge their allegiance to
Chamisa instead of MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe
“We are
not going to be victimizing councillors and MPs as long as they tow the party
line. If they don’t, we will not hesitate to wield the axe.
“Some
people thought that they were invincible and would not be recalled from council
or parliament but where are they now?
“They
thought we were joking. They were being lied to by Chamisa and Biti (Tendai) that
they belong to him but where was Chamisa when we recalled them?
“There
is nothing personal about the recalls but it is about principle. Every party
has its principles and if you fail to live by them and do as expected we kick
you out,” said Mwonzora.
He said
all the MPs and councilors who got positions under the MDC Alliance ticket belong
to MDC-T and they should make no mistake to grand stand as they will be
expelled.
“The
argument on whether the MDC-T has jurisdiction over them has been exhausted.
Most councilors in the urban areas that we had to recall committed political
suicide.
“They
knew that we had the power to recall them and they continued to disregard the
law,” said Mwonzora.
TellZim
News has been informed that Mwonzora’s axe will soon land on Masvingo
councilors who are believed to be siding with Chamisa.
Fear of
recalls among the seven MDC Alliance Masvingo Urban councillors increased after
Mwonzora fired 11 Harare councillors including the deputy mayor in the wake of
a mayoral by-election which was won by Jacob Mafume ahead of Mwonzora’s
preferred candidate Luckson Mukunguma.
Those
fired in Harare are Lovemore Makuwerere, Gilbert Hadebe Gilbert, Simon
Mapanzure, Charles Chidhagu, Keith Charumbira, Steven Dhliwayo, Munyaradzi
Kufahakutizwi, Barnabas Ndira, Runyowa Chihoma, Charles Nyatsuro and Enoch
Mupamawonde.
In
Masvingo, Mwonzora is said to be targeting Ward 4 Cllr Godfrey Kurauone, who is
MDC Alliance national youth organising secretary and strong Nelson Chamisa
ally; Ward 5 Cllr Daniel Mberikunashe, who is related to Chamisa; and Ward 7
Cllr Richard Musekiwa, who is also said to be strongly loyal to Chamisa.
Sources
said Mwonzora could spare Mayor Collen Maboke, who has had several runs-in with
Chamisa prior to the controversial Supreme Court judgement that led to the
current turmoil in the opposition movement.
The
other two councillors; Selina Maridza of Ward 1 and Tarusenga Vhembo of Ward 3
would be threatened into towing the Mwonzora line and spared as well.
Mwonzora,
however, said that his party is yet to get a report about councilors in
Masvingo saying that they are still doing as expected of them hence they are
still safe.
“We
have not received any information regarding the councilors in Masvingo. This
means they are still doing as expected of them.
“The
Harare councilors were recalled for a number of reasons. They had specifically
by word and deed said that they had joined the MDC Alliance party.
“They
were fingered in various embarrassing allegations of corruption. The
councillors in Harare went against the party directive in the selection of the
mayor and ended up surrendering the position to PDP, which is unacceptable,”
said Mwonzora.
