adminMichael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
KWEKWE Ward 10 councillor, Aaron Gwalazimba might be recalled from council if found guilty of turning his back on his MDC-T party amid allegations that he voted for a Zanu-PF candidate during a deputy mayor election in May.
Clr Gwalazimba was suspended from the party after he allegedly voted for Clr John Mapurazi, the incumbent deputy mayor, ignoring a party directive to vote for Councillor Jenet Ticharunga from his party.
The election was held to replace the late deputy Mayor, Councillor Aaron Sithole (MDC-T) who passed on after a short illness in March.
Before the death of Clr Sithole, Zanu-PF and MDC-T had seven councillors each.
After the election, MDC-T initially suspended all its six councillors as it launched an investigation on who had voted for Mapurazi who won on an 8-4 margin.
The outspoken councillor stand accused together with his Ward 1 counterpart Mbekezeli Ndlovu, who is alleged to have spoiled the ballot paper during the elections.
MDC-T Midlands chairman Mr Sedwell Bhebhe confirmed Gwalazimba and Ndlovu’s suspensions saying the other councillors have been exonerated of any wrong doing.
“The other four have been cleared but Ndlovu and Gwalazimba remain suspended as we are to sit for their issue this coming weekend,” said Mr Bhebhe.
He said if found guilty, Clr Gwalazimba might face a possible recall from the chambers as his actions of voting for “an enemy” were unwarranted.
“If found guilty, yes, he might be recalled from council, but now I cannot publish such information until we sit for our disciplinary hearing,” he said.
Mr Bhebhe said Clr Ndlovu had since confessed to spoiling the paper but the hearing will be on his wayward behaviour.
Contacted for comment, Clr Gwalazimba said his political rivals were behind his suspension.
“I know there are people who are plotting my political downfall and they are the ones who are behind all this,” he said.
Although Clr Gwalazimba did not mention names, sources close to the goings on, allege that Mr Blessing Chebundo who seeks to revive his political career, is the one who is behind the embattled councillor’s demise.
Clr Gwalazimba is a hot favourite to challenge for the Kwekwe Central seat in the hamornised elections which is held by Cde Masango Matambanadzo (Zanu-PF) who beat Mr Chebundo in the 2013 elections.
At the same time, Mr Chebundo needs to resuscitate his political career, putting the two on a collision course, the source alleged.
Mr Chebundo, however, said it was not his duty to stand in the way of anyone who wanted to contest for any seat.
“I am in the national executive and I don’t have any business with provincial or district disciplinary hearings. I won’t stand in anyone’s way, whoever wants to contest should feel free,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu