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| Douglas Mwonzora |
Upenyu Chaota
Controversial
MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora has said that MDC Alliance Masvingo
Urban Ward 3 councillor Tarusenga Vhembo was expelled from the party by
mistake.
Vhembo
is among three other MDC Alliance councillors from Masvingo Urban whose seats
have since been declared vacant.
In a
letter dated December 4 addressed to acting City of Masvingo Town Clerk Edward
Mukaratirwa, Moyo declared vacant Wards 3, 4, 5 and 7 led by Vhembo, Godfrey
Kurauone, Daniel Mberikunashe and Richard Musekiwa respectively.
Mukaratirwa
told TellZim News that he was out of office and could not give an official
comment.
Mwonzora
told TellZim News that Mberikunashe, Kurauone and Musekiwa deserved to be expelled
but the name of Vhembo appeared on the list by mistake.
“The
expulsions were effected on September 30. A number of councillors across
various municipalities have been expelled. The recent letters from the ministry
of Local government are just confirmation of the expulsions.
“It is
unfortunate that Vhembo made the list. It was an error. Vhembo was not supposed
to be there. It was a mistake,” said Mwonzora.
Mberikunashe,
however, said that they have since received the letter from Mukaratirwa
informing them of their fate.
“The Town
Clerk forwarded the letter to us and I tell you I feel a huge relief. It was
only a matter of time and Mwonzora was taking too long.
“If he
had not expelled us people would have thought that we were with them. We are
fully behind our president Nelson Chamisa and no amount of intimidation can
ever move us,” said Mberikunashe.
Though
it remains unclear whether the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) would be
able to conduct by-elections next owing to financial constraints, Mberikunashe
believes that the electorate would vote them back into office again.
“We are
confident that the will of the people will never be subverted. We will be voted
back again much to the dislike of the enemy,” said Mberikunashe.
Mwonzora
has spared City of Masvingo Mayor and Ward 2 councillor Collen Maboke, Ward 1
councillor Selina Maridza and Ward 9 councillor Babylon Beta.
It
remains unclear whether or not these three have crossed the floor to join the
Khupe camp.
Chamisa
had been fighting with Maboke, who assumed the mayoral post against the party’s
directive which had opted for Kurauone.
