The coup was reportedly the result of a power struggle ahead of the next election. “There is serious jockeying for power in the province. Some failed politicians at both district and provincial levels want to sideline Nyandoro as they regarded him as a major obstacle in their path to town house,” said a top official who did not want to be identified.
“Everybody wants to be the next town mayor, hence the attempted coup. Unfortunately, the party standing committee is composed of politically mature politicians who saw through the ploy,” he added.
The executives had sited unsubstantiated corruption as the reason to expel Nyandoro from the party. Had the standing committee upheld the expulsion, he would have been rendered ineligible to contest the election.
The committee recommended that the party secretariat for local government chaired by Minister Cecil Zvidzayi should investigate and assess the operations of MDC-T councillors around the country.
“This would help ensure that councillors live up to expectations of both the party and the electorate. It was also spelt out at the meeting that party structures such as district and provincial executives had no mandate to dismiss mayors. Such poweris vested in the secretariat for local government. So, for now it is business as usual for Nyandoro,” said another highly placed source.
Observers said the position taken by the standing committee was both mature and commendable, as Zanu (PF) and CIO wanted to destroy the MDC through infiltration of party structures. “It is common knowledge that MDC was infiltrated by CIO and there was need for the party national standing committee to be vigilant. In the Nyandoro case, it is public knowledge that Zanu (PF) and CIO were going to full length in a bid to pull down the brave and youthful city father before next elections. He is bad news for the former ruling party. Zanu (PF) would love to split MDC support ahead of elections,” said the source.
Post published in: News