Mwonzora claimed that this is not the first time Chombo has protected those dismissed from the MDC-T for corruption. The Nyanga North MP told SW Radio Africa that when they fired corrupt councillors in Chitungwiza, the Minister came to their rescue.
‘We now have the 12 councilors who have been found guilty of corruption still being protected by the same Minister. This is because he’s involved in corruption with those councillors, so we are saying ZANU PF can have these people.
‘As MDC, we will not worry about councillors who are themselves corrupt. Any party that wants them can have them,’ Mwonzora said.
He continued: ‘We have made our position clear, unfortunately the law does not allow us to take them out of council…the Minister only has the powers to do that but as you are aware Chombo is protecting them.’
Last week the MDC-T fired 12 councillors at differ¬ent local authorities, on allegations of abusing office and corruption. Harare deputy Mayor Emmanuel Chiroto, and Gweru Mayor Tedious Chimombe, were among those dismissed after a party investigating team completed its probe.
But over the weekend the Permanent Secretary for Local Government, Killian Mpingo, insisted that councillors will continue to perform normal duties as their dismissal was not sanctioned by Cabinet.
He told the state media that the decision to dismiss the councillors was ineffective because it was taken at party level. However, Mwonzora reiterated that from now onwards, the same councillors will be representing ZANU PF interests in council meetings.
‘We are very solid in our fight against corruption. We will not allow corrupt people to abuse the name of the party for illegitimate private gain,’ Mwonzora added.
Recently Finance Minister Tendai Biti and the party’s secretary-general said: ‘Once you get people being defended by the likes of Jonathan Moyo (ZANU PF) you must know that you are finished.
He was referring to Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, whom he accused of being defended by ZANU PF, adding that it proves beyond reasonable doubt that he had been compromised by the former ruling party. SW Radio Africa
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