The executive was suspended with immediate effect together with two unnamed councillors within the Gutu rural district council over allegations of corruption. MDC-T Masvingo Provincial Chairman, Wilstaf Sitemere, confirmed the suspensions.
“We have suspended the Gutu North district executive after it failed to conduct statutory party meetings,” said Sitemere. “We have also suspended two councillors within the Gutu Rural District Council following reports of corruption.”
It is alleged that there is a serious rift within the Gutu North MDC-T leadership, with some being loyal to sitting Member of Parliament, Edmore Hamandishe Maramwidze, who others want fired.
A member of the suspended MDC-T leadership in the district, who refused to be named, told The Zimbabwean that the party’s provincial executive was divided over the fate of Maramwidze.
“The entire district executive for Gutu north has been divided and this has come to the attention of party leaders. Some members of the district executive now want change of leadership. Because of these differences we failed as an executive to hold any meetings,” said the source.
MDC-T’s Bikita East district executive is facing the same fate after it failed to conduct party statutory meetings resulting in party business collapsing. Edmore Marima is the sitting MDC-T legislator of the area.
In his report to the provincial council late last year, Sitemere told Tsvangirai that the party was having problems running its affairs in Bikita East.
“The leadership there is not holding meetings and is failing to organise party programmes sanctioned by the provincial executive,” he said.
MDC-T national chairman Lovemore Moyo warned party provincial structures against suspending members, saying only his office had the power to fire anyone from the party.
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