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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
MDC-T has given Gweru Mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi up to the end of this month to step down, failure of which he will be expelled from the party. According to a letter written to Clr Kombayi by MDC-T secretary general Tendai Biti, Clr Kombayi should tender his resignation to Gweru Town Clerk before year end to pave way for fresh elections.
Clr Kombayi was found guilty of defying the party position by accepting nomination to stand for the Gweru mayor against a preferred party candidate, part of a rebellion staged by MDC-T councillors in other towns and cities countrywide.
MDC-T wanted trade unionist Charles Chikozho to be elected Gweru mayor and Clr Kenneth Sithole as his deputy.
However, the MDC-T councillors defied the party position and voted Clr Kombayi as mayor and Clr Artwell Matyorauta as his deputy leading to the former’s suspension from the party pending a disciplinary hearing.
“In its meeting of the 26th of September 2013, the national executive set up an ad-hoc committee within the ambit of Article 511A of the Constitution of the MDC, whose mandate was to determine and make recommendations on allegations that had been proffered against yourself. As you are aware the charges levelled against yourself included the following,” read part of the letter Biti sent to Clr Kombayi.
“You defied a lawful directive of the party in accepting the nomination and election for the position of Mayor for Gweru City Council against the official candidate for the party. You defied the party position and directive by voting against the party candidate in the council elections held on 16th September 2013.”
Chronicle is in possession of the letter dated December 12, 2013.
In the letter, Biti said the ad-hoc committee and the party national executive reached a conclusion that Clr Kombayi be expelled from the party.
Biti said the party’s national council, however, resolved that the decision to expel Clr Kombayi from the party would be suspended if he steps down as the Gweru mayor.
“I therefore write to notify you as I hereby do that, you are expelled from the party. You are recalled as Mayor of Gweru City Council.
However, the national council took the decision that the above decision will be suspended if you resign as Mayor of Gweru City Council and become an ordinary councillor,” read the letter.
Biti said Kombayi should immediately resign and notify the party of his resignation before December 31.
Online Reporter