MDC expels Matabeleland South chairman

Chronicle Reporters
THE Professor Welshman Ncube-led MDC has expelled its Matabeleland South chairman Mr Petros Mukwena in what party insiders view as a ploy to eliminate dissenting voices opposed to the election of Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga in the National Assembly in Matabeleland South.

Mr Mukwena was in the forefront of the party supporters advocating for the recalling of the party’s secretary-general, Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga, from her post accusing her of imposing herself in the province.

His expulsion comes just after Mr Mukwena failed to turn up for a disciplinary hearing on Friday last week after he accused the committee that handled his case of being biased in favour of Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga.

Mr Mukwena was served with a letter of expulsion on 15 October by the party’s national disciplinary committee chairman, Mr Jacob Moyo.

According to the letter Mr Mukwena was expelled for misconduct and insubordination.
“As regards your appearance before the national disciplinary committee on 13 June 2013 the committee deliberated and found you guilty of misconduct in contravention of Article 10.5 (b) of the MDC constitution,” said Mr Moyo.

He said after the meeting Mr Mukwena refused to reply to the charge and instead approached the national appeals tribunal challenging the decision of the national disciplinary committee.

Mr Moyo also accused Mr Mukwena of taking the matter to the Press where he denigrated the party leadership and accused it of being corrupt.

“Your conduct has gone beyond the pale and demonstrates that you no longer recognise the MDC constitution, let alone its leaders and structures…you are therefore proceeding with impunity outside all structures of the party,” he said.

“Consequently the national disciplinary committee, sitting in Bulawayo on Friday . . . decided to expel you from the party forthwith and recommends that you must not be allowed to re-apply for membership of MDC for the next five years.”

Mr Mukwena confirmed receiving the expulsion letter and said the move has given him a sigh of relief.
“I received the letter of expulsion from the party for insubordination against Paul Themba Nyathi (the party’s treasurer general) and Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga,” he said.

“I received the letter with pleasure. I was happy after 10 months of people failing to deliver judgement. Justice delayed is justice denied.
“I don’t have bad feelings about the expulsion, actually it’s good riddance to me. I will be moving away from the majority of political novices.”

Turning to prospects of rejoining the party Mr Mukwena said: “That is a joke of the year for a party which we were still building and even failed to secure a single seat in the 31 July harmonised elections, of which there are no prospects of securing any seat in future.”
Mr Mukwena, however, could not be drawn into revealing his political future after expulsion.

“I will first exhaust the internal arrangement,” he said adding that he would join any other opposition party.
Mr Mukwena said he was grateful to have worked with the party’s president, Professor Welshman Ncube over the past 13years but implored the constitutional lawyer to move away from the “political kitchen cabinet” and “political comedians” that he said led to the party’s dismal failure in the polls.

Disgruntled party insiders said Mr Mukwena’s expulsion would further destabilise the party. Senior party members such as Ms Elizabeth Ndlovu, who chairs the provincial women’s league and outspoken former Bulawayo Deputy Mayor, Alderman Charles Mpofu, who lost the Nketa seat in the 31 July elections, have openly criticised Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s election.