Battlelines drawn between MDC-T, rebel councillors

Takunda Maodza Senior Reporter
MDC-T has appointed a three-member team to preside over the disciplinary hearing of its rebel councillors who recently voted for Zanu-PF mayors amid reports the Ides of October hang over the party like the Sword of Damocles.The original MDC split on October 12, 2005 amid sharp differences between Mr Tsvangirai and some senior officials, and the opposition party once again finds itself riven by serious divisions over leadership renewal in the wake of its crushing defeat in the harmonised  elections.

The party was also snubbed by its donor pointman, the self-exiled treasurer general Roy Bennett, who had been summoned for a disciplinary hearing after called on party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai to step down.

Mr Bennett’s call has since been echoed by other party members among them Mr Ian Kay, Eddie Cross and Ben Freeth, who have all called on Mr Tsvangirai to call it quits.

Mr Bennett, a fugitive from the law in Zimbabwe, has set base in South Africa.  Some unnamed MDC-T councillors in three local authorities in the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces dumped their party’s nominees and voted for Zanu-PF mayors on September 16 in Redcliff, Kwekwe and Victoria Falls in a development that left the party leadership shell-shocked.

The party’s councillors in Mutare also voted for a Zanu-PF candidate as deputy mayor with the Mayor Tatenda Nhamarare congratulating President Mugabe on his resounding victory in the harmonised elections.

The disciplinary committee is chaired Mr Shepherd Mushonga and other members are Mrs Sibusisiwe Bhuda Masara and Senator James Makore.

Mrs Masara is the MDC-T women’s assembly secretary-general while Mr Makore is a longtime member of Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s kitchen cabinet.

The appointment of the probe team follows the completion of some investigations by the provinces which have since submitted reports on their findings to the party leadership.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora yesterday confirmed the development.
“We have received the reports from most provinces.

“The correct position is that the provinces can suspend a councillor and recommend any action including dismissal.
“Upon sight of these recommendations the national executive committee appointed a three member disciplinary committee composed of Mushonga, Bhuda Masara and Senator Makore.

“These are going to be the disciplinary committee to hear the individual cases and after that we will take action on each of the councillors. Anybody who is accused will appear before the disciplinary committee and answer to the charges,” he                                                                         said.

Zanu-PF now controls almost all the 92 local authorities countrywide after clinching 1 496 of the country’s 1 958 wards were leaving MDC-T to contend with a paltry 442 wards.

Last month, Zanu-PF won Kwekwe, Redcliff and Victoria Falls mayoral contests after MDC-T councilors voted for Zanu-PF candidates Cdes Matenda Madzoke, Freddy Kapuya and Sifiso Mpofu.

In Kwekwe, Zanu-PF candidate Cde Madzoke garnered nine votes against the MDC-T’s five. Kwekwe has 14 wards evenly split seven apiece between Zanu-PF and MDC-T, which means two MDC-T councilors voted for the Zanu-PF mayoral candidate.

Zanu-PF repeated the feat in Redcliff where Cde Kapuya, a renowned businessman, got five votes with the MDC-T’s Mr Takura Chikwiri managing four.

Redcliff has nine wards, of which two are held by Zanu-PF and seven by MDC-T, meaning three MDC-T councillors voted for Zanu-PF.
In Victoria Falls, Zanu-PF won three wards out of 10 in the July 31 harmonised elections, but still had Cde Mpofu elected mayor for the resort town after garnering six wards against MDC-T candidate Ms Margaret Valley’s four, which means three MDC-T councilors voted for a Zanu-PF candidate.

Ms Valley, a businesswoman, was imposed by the MDC-T leadership. While MDC-T is bringing the councillors before a disciplinary hearing, the party has reportedly failed to discipline Mr Bennett and losing candidate for Marondera Mr Ian Kay for denigrating Mr Tsvangirai and yesterday Mr Mwonzora was evasive over the matter.

“The MDC-T does not try its officials in the Press nor does it advise them of disciplinary issues through newspapers,” he said.
Some MDC-T officials are reported to have taken the cue of the party’s Rhodesian lobby led by Mr Bennett, Mr Kay, Mr Eddie Cross and former farmer Mr Ben Freeth, to  bay for Mr Tsvangirai’s blood.