The MDC-T yesterday recalled eight more senators belonging
to the MDC Alliance, but some members expressed disquiet over the move.
Acting secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora yesterday
recalled senators Keresencia Chabuka (Manicaland), Spiwe Ncube (Bulawayo),
Phyllis Ndlovu (Matabeleland North), Meliwe Phuti (Matabeleland South), Gideon
Shoko (Bulawayo), Bhebhe Sinamupande (Matabeleland North), Tapfumaneyi
Vunganayi (Mashonaland East) and Hellen Zivira (Bulawayo).
Acting party spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni said the MDC-T
national council had passed a resolution to recall all senators and
proportional representation (PR) legislators still supporting MDC Alliance
president Nelson Chamisa, but were sponsored by the MDC-T.
“The national council of May 9 2020 resolved to recall all
the PR and senators because those are low-hanging fruits, that is what I
understand to mean strategically, you recall those quickly and you deploy party
cadres who are able to carry out the values, principles and objectives of the
MDC-T as I have alluded to, that’s what it said.
To the extent that it’s not done I can’t defend that. I
think the members of the MDC-T will have to judge us as leadership and say what
do we have to do with such leadership, but the resolution is clear,” he said.
The Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T has been methodically
plucking out its perceived enemies from Parliament starting with MDC Alliance
secretary-general Chalton Hwende, chairperson Tabitha Khumalo and Lilian
Timveos, accusing them of representing a different political party.
Phugeni said he was not aware why legislators, including
Lynette Karenyi-Kore, Job Sikhala and others who declared allegiance to Chamisa
were being left out.
“I must be honest with you, I think the issue of recalls
has the potential to undermine our platform. You have already accused us of
being biased; you have already asked me about certain people who are holding
higher positions than people who we have already recalled. So it offends one’s
sense of fairness and consistency and in this case I can bow my head in shame,
I have no defence for this,” he said.
Insiders have accused Mwonzora of using recalls to his
favour ahead of party’s July 31 extraordinary congress.
At a recent standing committee meeting, Mwonzora said the
recalls had become a divisive issue among the party leadership. Newsday
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