BULAWAYO – There are reports that a faction of PDP the party founded MDC Alliance Vice President now wants to recall Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume and councilor Arnold Batirai in Bulawayo.
Respected media personality Zenzele Ndebele reported the matter on Twitter.
Said Ndebele, “So a faction of PDP now wants to recall Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume and councilor Arnold Batirai in Bulawayo. How did the opposition find themselves in such a mess? #Asakhe.”
So a faction of PDP now wants to recall Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume and councilor Arnold Batirai in Bulawayo. How did the opposition find themselves in such a mess? #Asakhe
— Zenzele (@zenzele) September 16, 2020
The turf war between MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe and her MDC Alliance rival Nelson Chamisa has left operations in the country’s major cities and towns paralysed after she recalled a record 84 councillors among them three mayors in a single swoop, accusing them of crossing the floor.
The most affected cities are Harare, Bulawayo, Marondera, Gwanda, Beitbridge and Victoria Falls.
The recalls have effectively crippled Chamisa’s party which controlled the majority of the country’s 32 urban councils.
MDC-T spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni confirmed the recalls, insisting the party was simply following the law.
“We did recall eight councillors from Bulawayo for one reason, that they have since left the party. It might be sad, but we have to do this. Constitutionally, once one leaves the party, they cannot then claim to be our representatives in council,” he said.
Khupe’s party also recalled five councillors from Marondera and others from Victoria Falls amid reports that the axe would soon fall on Chitungwiza, Kwekwe, Mutare and Masvingo MDC Alliance councillors.
This follows the recall of 23 Harare councillors, who include former mayor Herbert Gomba, amid reports that the new mayor Jacob Mafume may face the axe, this time from his party the People’s Democratic Party.
Marondera mayor Chengetai Murowa and four other councillors namely Size Vilela (ward 11), Charles Ngwena (ward 4), Wonder Siriya (ward 6) and Misheck Manyere (ward 5) were also axed.
Gwanda mayor Jastone Mazhale was also shown the exit door after refusing to pay allegiance to Khupe.
