Mutare Mayor, Councillors suspended

Nhamarare had two charges.

According to a suspension letter dated 30 September in possession of The Zimbabwean signed by the party’s secretary general, Tendai Biti, the first charge is on “defying lawful order of the party, and or conduct inconsistent with the fulfillment of the express or implied terms of your membership in the party in that you accepted the nomination of Mayorship of Mutare on the 16 September 2013 against party directive.”

In this case the party had Thomas Nyamupanedengu as the mayoral candidate and Kudakwashe Chisango as the deputy mayor.

In the election, Nhamarare was voted as the Mayor while Zanu (PF’) Collin Mukwada was elected as deputy Mayor.

In the letter Biti further wrote: “Before, during and after the 16th September 2013 you colluded and conspired with certain ZANU PF councilors to defy party directive to elect Thomas Nyamupanedengu as Mayor and Kudakwashe Chisango as Deputy Mayor.”

The second charge for Nhamarare was laid as follows: “In your capacity as “Mayor” you caused an advert to be placed in the local press in which you congratulated Robert Mugabe for “resoundingly winning the harmonized election” against clear evidence and party position that the July 31 election was rigged and stolen.”

“As a result of the suspension, you are barred to having contact with any member, organ or structure of the party,” read the suspension letter.

The other three councilors suspended are Pamela Mutari, Richard Mupfura and Farai Bhiza.

In their letters of suspensions also signed by Biti it read: “Before, during and after the 16th September 2013 you colluded and conspired with certain ZANU PF councilors to defy arty directive to elect Thomas Nyamupanedengu as Mayor and Kudakwashe Chisango as Deputy Mayor.”

The letter furthers said: “Therefore, the national executive formally lay charges against you for the conduct inconsistent with the fulfillment of the express or implied terms of your membership in the party, bringing the party into disrepute, disobeying a lawful order and breaching the party constitution.”

“As a result of the suspension, you are barred to having contact with any member, organ or structure of the party,” wrote Biti.

In his comments today the MDC-T national spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora confirmed of the suspensions.

“Yes the letters are authentic. We reached that decision as a national executive council and a hearing will be held,” said Mwonzora.

Nhamarare said: “I have not yet received the letter, but will comply with whatever they say.”

The Nhamarare and the three councilors have been called for a hearing before a national executive committee on 7 October 2013 at the party headquarters in Harare.