BULAWAYO Five MPs suspended by the Deputy Premier Arthur Mutambaras Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-M) have finally been told of the charges against them.The MPs were suspended two months ago and the MDC-M has now written letters to them explaining that they will now be charged with urging party supporters to shift their allegiance from the party to the main MDC faction led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T).
The letters, signed by national disciplinary committee chairperson Lyson Mlambo and dated June 16, said the conduct by the suspended party members violated Article 10.5 (b) of the party constitution.
A total of seven party members were expected to appear before the disciplinary committee last Saturday, but the case was deferred after the suspended officials requested to attend the constitutional hearing meetings that were taking place.
Mlambo, however, said the disciplinary hearings would take place soon.
The suspended officials are Abednico Bhebhe, MP for Nkayi South; Njabulo Mguni (Lupane East); Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East); Thandeka Mnkandla (Gwanda North), and Maxwell Dube (Tsholotsho South). The other officials facing disciplinary action are the partys national youth assembly chairman, Gift Nyandoro, and national executive members, Alex Goosen and Job Sikhala.
Last week two of the suspended legislators attended a victory rally for Bhebhe that was also attended by MDC-T Vice-President Thokozani Khuphe and other MDC-T officials, raising speculation that the suspended members could be on their way to joining the MDC-T.
Early this month the MDC-M suffered a body blow when the partys entire Nkayi district leadership and all 23 councillors crossed the floor to join the MDC-T, in protest against the suspension of Bhebhe.
Mutambara, a robotics professor, became the president of the smaller wing of Zimbabwes MDC party after it split in 2005 into two rival factions with the larger group led by Tsvangirai. ZimOnline