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Senior Reporter
MDC-T has given its Gweru mayor Clr Hamutendi Kombayi more time to resign from his post after he ignored the party’s decision to stand down by December 31.Clr Kombayi won the mayoral post with Clr Kenneth Sithole as his deputy after the MDC-T-dominated Gweru council defied the party’s position to elect Clr Stephen Chingozho and Clr Artwell Matyorauta for the posts respectively.
The party’s national executive then decided last December that Mr Kombayi resign from the post while his counterpart from Mutare, Mr Tatenda Nhamarare – who was accused of colluding with Zanu-PF in the mayoral elections – was expelled together with nine councillors.
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora yesterday confirmed that Mr Kombayi would be given more time.
“It has not yet appeared to us as if they are defying, it is too early to conclude that they have defied the party. We had the holidays and today (yesterday) is the 3rd so we cannot say they have defied,” Mr Mwonzora said.
Clr Kombayi on Wednesday said he had not yet received the party’s communication calling on him to resign and insisted that he was the legitimate mayor of the country’s third largest city.
Mr Mwonzora also said Clr Nhamarare had also appealed against the decision to expel him from the party.
“I have information that his appeal is before the national chairman and it would be looked at on its own merits,” he said.
MDC-T lost a number of mayoral seats in councils it dominated after its councillors rejected imposed candidates.
Apart from Gweru and Mutare, the party’s directives were also disregarded in Redcliff and Victoria Falls.
Online Reporter