Tension continues to mount within the beleaguered MDC,
as Masvingo Mayor Councillor Collins Maboke yesterday vowed to continue with
his duties at Town House despite being ordered to step down by party leader Mr
Nelson Chamisa.
Mr Chamisa met members of his party’s provincial executive
at the weekend at a tension-filled meeting at Mucheke Hall where he gave Cllr
Maboke a one-week ultimatum to relinquish his mayoral post or face the boot.
Cllr Maboke, who was voted city mayor after winning Ward 2
on an MDC-Alliance ticket in last year’s harmonised elections, has been living
on borrowed time after Mr Chamisa sometime late last year ordered him to step
down from the post.
Cllr Maboke, an advocate by profession, is being accused of
conniving with Zanu-PF to ensure the ruling party Ward 6 Cllr Cde Wellington
Mahwende was voted deputy mayor, despite Zanu-PF controlling only three wards
of the local authority’s 10.
The MDC leadership wants Cllr Maboke to pave way for Ward 4
Cllr Godfrey Kurauone.
Mr Chamisa’s ultimatum came after the onslaught against
Cllr Maboke appeared to have fizzled out.
Mr Chamisa insisted that the MDC Alliance has rules that
should be followed by all party members, including Cllr Maboke, pointing out
that he should heed the party’s call to step down or risk summary expulsion
from MDC.
Cllr Maboke yesterday said he was not bound by an
announcement made by Mr Chamisa in his absence and vowed to continue with his
mayoral duties.
He said he will only respond to Mr Chamisa’s threat if he
receives communication in writing.
“I was away on the day in question (last Saturday)
attending a family bereavement after my brother passed on,” he said. “I cannot
be bound by an announcement made in public, moreso when I was not even present
at the said meeting.
“The party has official channels of communicating and I am
yet to receive anything, so as of now I am continuing with my mayoral duties.
In the event I receive official communication I will then make available my
response.
“Right now I am coming from a meeting that had been scheduled
with the Minister (of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Cde
July Moyo), who unfortunately was not available as he was attending to
challenges associated with Cyclone Idai in Manicaland.”
It is believed any knee-jerk decision by Mr Chamisa to fire
Cllr Maboke would boomerang on the MDC leader as the Ward 2 councillor enjoys
strong support and will likely retain the ward as an independent candidate in
the event of a by-election.
Mr Chamisa’s visit to Masvingo also reportedly muddied his
party’s political waters, amid worsening divisions and fresh turmoil blamed on
the MDC leader after he appeared to roundly condemn the incumbent provincial
executive led by Mr James Gumbi in favour of another faction led by Mr Tongai
Matutu, a former Masvingo Urban legislator.
Analysts said Mr Chamisa’s move will further stoke tension
and tear the party along factional lines as the MDC’s potentially explosive
national congress looms. Herald
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