Zanu-PF summons errant councillors

THE Zanu-PF provincial executive here has summoned four Chiredzi Town councillors for a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct and disloyalty after they allegedly sold out to the MDC-Alliance by allowing the opposition party to land the council chairmanship despite the ruling party being the majority in council.

The councillors were last month given prohibition orders by the party provincial leadership pending their appearance before a disciplinary hearing after allowing the MDC Alliance’s Councillor Gibson Hwende to land the chairmanship in the sugar growing town council dominated by Zanu-PF.

Zanu-PF bagged four wards in the town during the July 30 polls, while the MDC Alliance got three, with one seat going to an independent candidate.

Clr Hwende was duly elected Chiredzi Town chair after garnering five votes, while Zanu-PF’s candidate Clr Blessing Mazinyane managed two votes, with the remaining vote going to an independent candidate.

The development courted the ire of the party leadership in the province which accused some of its councillors of going to bed with the opposition by voting for Clr Hwende ahead of Cde Mazinyane.

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial vice chair Cde Ailess Baloyi said the councillors Cdes Liberty Macharaga, Obert Ngwenya, Josphat Nzombe and Mazinyane had been summoned for a hearing this week.

In a letter to the four councillors, Cde Baloyi said they will appear before a provincial disciplinary committee today.

“Prohibition order has been issued on you for the following charges: (1) In terms of Chapter 1, Article 3, Section 21, Subsection (1,2,3,4 and 5) of the Zanu-PF Party constitution in that you failed to perform duties required of a member,” reads the letter.

“Contrary to this Article, you disrespected the provincial leadership and the party at large by working in cahoots with members of the opposition MDC Alliance and some of our party renegades culminating in bringing the party into disrepute and ridicule,” continued the letter.

Cde Baloyi said the councillors acted in violation of the party’s constitution by supporting Clr Hwende.

“In terms of Article 28, Section 262 (b) and (c) on general provisions of the party constitution, you failed to obey a lawful order as required of a member,” he said. “You are, in this case charged with gross misconduct and disloyalty.”

Zanu-PF last month warned that the party was going to follow internal party processes to deal with errant Chiredzi Town councillors for going to bed with the opposition.