Mwonzora at it again
THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Douglas Mwonzora has wielded his axe again and recalled three Kwekwe City councillors for allegedly dumping the party and joining the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC).
The recalled trio are; Deputy Mayor and Ward 3 councilor Pikirai Msipa.
Ward 7’s Cllr Charles Juta and his Ward 13 counterpart Betty Ndlovu.
Kwekwe Town Clerk, Dr Lucia Mnkandla confirmed receiving an official communication from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works which declared the three wards vacant.
“It’s true, I have received the communication from the parent ministry that’s all I can say for now,” she said.
In August 2021, MDC recalled then-Mayor Angeline Kasipo (Ward 5), her deputy Melody Chingarande (Ward 10) and Washington Moyo (Ward 12) after they joined the newly formed CCC.
The three have since bounced back into council chambers after winning by-elections on CCC ticket.
The recent casualties survived the chop then, despite having clearly crossed the floor to join the Nelson Chamisa-led party.
The recalls come after Mwonzora, yesterday, recalled three Norton Town Council councillors for joining the Citizens Coalition for Change.
The recall was announced yesterday in a statement by Local Government minister July Moyo.
The three recalled councillors are Rosemary Chinoyera, Charles Dube and Nuchaneta Munyeveri.
They were recalled in terms of section 278 (1) of the Constitution which states that: “The seat of a mayor, chairperson of a local authority becomes vacant in the circumstances set out in section 129, as if he or she were a Member of Parliament, any reference to the Speaker or President of the Senate in section 129 (1) (k) being construed as a reference to the minister responsible for Local Government.”
Section 129 (1) (k) states that if one has ceased to belong to a political party of which they were a member when they were elected, they can be recalled.
In a letter dated February 27 and addressed to the Norton town clerk, Moyo said he was informed by Mwonzora that the three have been expelled from the party.
— Chronicle/NewsDay
