I will not lose focus, says Mutare mayor

In an interview last week in Mutare, Nhamarare said he would shame his detractors within the MDC-T, who were bent on his political downfall, by working hard for the city.

Said Nhamarare: “This is a new year with new challenges. I will not be deterred by people who are fanning factionalism in this city. I will not lose focus and I am still the mayor of Mutare. My resolutions are to work hard for better service delivery for the residents of Mutare.”

He added: “To my enemies: they should remember that I have forgiven them but I will not forget.” Nhamarare and three councillors were fired from the MDC-T in October, charged with misconduct relating to council elections held in council chambers in October.

Nhamarare who is also the ward 8 councillor was charged with defying a lawful order of the party in that he accepted the nomination of mayorship of Mutare against a party directive. Nhamarare was accused of colluding and conspiring with certain Zanu (PF) councillors.

The second charge against Nhamarare concerned his placing an advert in the local press, congratulating Robert Mugabe on “resoundingly winning the harmonised election” – an act that the party said was against clear evidence and their own position that the July 31 election was rigged and stolen.

The three other councillors fired were Pamela Mutari, Richard Mupfura and Farai Bhiza. They were accused of colluding and conspiring with Zanu (PF) councillors to defy the party directive for the election of mayor and deputy mayor.

In an interview this week, Nhamarare argued that local government administration did not need party political directives in its operations.

He said: “The residents should not be confused by the factional fighting in our party, which triggered my expulsion. I have not yet received the official communication from the party. The so-called expulsion does not hold water at all. I am still in the office as the mayor of Mutare. I am still doing my duties as the mayor of Mutare and chairing meetings. Residents must not be confused by these developments. I have dedicated myself to the development of this city, accommodating everyone irrespective of their political and religious affiliation,” said Nhamarare.

In explaining the allegations against him, Nhamarare emphasised that he did not collude with Zanu councillors.

“Everything was done through a secret ballot. The nomination and the election were done through secret ballots and I won the election. How then can someone come and accuse me of having voted for Zanu (PF) councillors when the whole thing was done in secrecy?” he asked.

“We have councillors who won primary elections, but were barred from contesting in the July 31 l elections by provincial leaders who refused to sign their nomination papers just because they did not belong to their faction. We had party provincial leaders who openly campaigned for independent candidates against the party’s preferred candidates,” he said, adding that he was ready to name and shame the party members who were fanning factionalism in the party.

“I was the party’s preferred candidate, but some leaders in the province backed a candidate whom I had beaten in the primary elections. These are some of the sad developments emanating from factional fights that have been happening in the MDC-T. Some elements have remained relentless in their efforts to victimise us,” he added.