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Takunda Maodza Senior Reporter
The beleaguered MDC-T has summoned its losing mayoral candidate for Redcliff, Councillor Takura Chikwiri, for a disciplinary hearing accusing him of voting for Zanu-PF candidate Cde Freddy Kapuya, who won the race. MDC-T, which is on a witch-hunt, is accusing Clr Chikwiri of not voting for himself leading to the party’s loss to Zanu-PF.
Clr Kapuya is the new Redcliff mayor following his election last month by an MDC-T-dominated council.
Redcliff has nine councillors of which seven are MDC-T and two are Zanu-PF.
Reliable MDC-T sources told the Herald on Wednesday that besides Clr Chikwiri, other MDC-T councillors for Redcliff have reportedly been summoned for a hearing in Harare and these are Clrs Onward Majaji (Ward 5) and Euphrasia Duro (Ward 2).
On Wednesday MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora tried to play down the summoning of Clr Chikwiri.
Initially, he denied that Clr Chikwiri was among the Redcliff councillors summoned for a disciplinary hearing.
He later confirmed the matter but claimed Clr Chikwiri was coming in not as an accused person but as a witness.
Voting was by secret ballot and the Clrs do not understand what criteria was being used to implicate them.
“He was served with a letter to attend the hearing. By attending the hearing it does not mean that he is guilty or that he is accused.
“It may mean that he is a witness in the hearing.
“His role is that of a witness. You want to prejudge the process before it happens thereby jeopardising the rights of those involved.
“Let the process proceed and then criticise later if there are any grounds to do so,” Mr Mwonzora said.
When the Herald contacted Clr Chikwiri he was reluctant to comment over the matter.
“I cannot comment over the matter. It is not for public consumption,” he said.
In Victoria Falls three councillors stand accused of voting for Zanu-PF’s Cde Sifiso Mpofu. These are Clrs Ritchie Mguni (Ward 5), Noris Nyathi (Ward 7) and Robson Salimu (Ward 8). They were also served with disciplinary hearing letters.
The MDC-T appointed a three-member disciplinary committee chaired by Mr Shepherd Mushonga to deal with the matters.
Other members of the committee are Mrs Sibusisiwe Bhuda Masara and Senator James Makore.
The MDC-T is still confused after Zanu-PF mayors won in towns dominated by councillors from its rival.
Zanu-PF won Kwekwe, Redcliff and Victoria Falls mayoral contests after MDC-T councillors voted for the revolutionary party’s candidates Cdes Matenda Madzoke, Freddy Kapuya and Sifiso Mpofu.
In Kwekwe, Zanu-PF’s Cde Madzoke got nine votes against the MDC-T’s five. Kwekwe has 14 wards evenly split between Zanu-PF and the MDC-T.
Zanu-PF again won Redcliff after Cde Kapuya polled five votes against the MDC-T Clr Chikwiri’s four.
In Victoria Falls, Zanu-PF won six wards against the MDC-T’s four.
This was despite the fact that the party only won three wards in the July 31 elections.
Online Reporter