Beverly Bizeki
MASVINGO – With barely two months in office, the newly elected youthful Masvingo City Mayor Shantiel Chiwara has been expelled by Local government and Public Works Minister Winston Chitando after her party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) recalled her together with 16 others from Bulawayo, Matebeleland North and South, and Epworth.
Chiwara is the only one affected councilor in Masvingo province from the recalls by one Sengezo Tshabangu who claims to be CCC’s interim secretary general.
In a letter dated October 18, 2023 Chitando said he was acting on the letter he had received from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party which stated that 17 councilors from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South, Epworth and Masvingo had ceased to be members of the party.
“I wish to inform you that I am in receipt of a letter from the CCC stating that the following councilors have ceased to be members of the CCC political party.
The 12 members from Bulawayo are Shepherd Sithole, Nkosinathi Hove Mpofu, Donaldson Mabutho, Takunda Felix Madzana, Simbarashe Dube, Tinevimbo Maphosa, Thobeka Mmeli and Arnold Batirai while the other four from women’s quota are Sarah Cronje, Tabeth Mhizha, Dorcas Sibanda and Tshongwe Zibusiso.
The other four members are Granger Nyoni and Gugu Ncube both from Matabeleland South, Mbiri Maundura from Matabeleland North and Anna Sande from Epworth and Masvingo’s Chiwara to make them 17.
“In terms of Section 278(1) of the constitution of Zimbabwe as read with section (1) (k) the above mentioned wards are now vacant,” reads Chitando’s letter.
Chiwara’s expulsion from the local authority leaves Masvingo West Ward 2 vacant and ZEC is expected to announce dates for a by-election.
CCC has been on record disowning Tshabangu whom they called an impostor.
Masvingo Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said in a comment he was yet to receive the letter from Chitando.
“I am yet to receive the letter from the Minister of Local Government,” said Mukaratirwa.
Contacted for a comment, Chiwara said she had not received any formal communication by the time of writing.
“I have not received any formal communication yet from the ministry but I have only heard about the expulsion on social media.
“The party is pursuing the matter legally and politically,” said Chiwara.
Tshabangu also ordered for the recall of 15 CCC Members of Parliament and the Speaker of Parliament had since expelled the affected legislators.
