(HERALD) Mayor wants minister fired
Mayor wants minister firedSunday, 24 April 2011 22:15
By Michael Chideme
ACTING Bindura Mayor Ivory Matanhire (MDC-T) and four councillors from her party are demanding immediate expulsion of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Deputy Minister Sessel Zvidzai, whom they describe as unfit to hold such a senior Government portfolio.
The five accuse Mr Zvidzai of "gross favou-ritism, divisiveness and working to destroy everyone". "We are MDC-T councillors and the party will be shocked to find out the kind of damage he has done," claim the five.
Although Mr Zvidzai could not be reached for comment, Acting Mayor Clr Matanhire, Clrs Elizabeth Mafios, Rindai Muchemwa, Mr Daniso Wakatama and Christopher Mazembe visited The Herald on Thursday last week and alleged they are part of a team of councillors from 10 local authorities that met recently and petitioned MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai to relieve Mr Zvidzai of his party and Government duties.
Recently Mr Zvidzai declared that he donated the disgruntled councillors to Zanu-PF.
Their beef with Mr Zvidzai stems from his interference in the management of Bindura Municipality and his open bias against some councillors in favour of a select few. Mr Zvidzai wants suspended Mayor Tinashe Madamombe reinstated while the MDC-T recognises dismissed councillor Mr Wakatama as mayor.
Mr Zvidzai is fighting hard to have Clr Mada-mombe reinstated against the recommendations of the full council which alleges that they cannot work with Clr Madamombe.
Clr Matanhire said the council had approached Mr Zvidzai on several occasions seeking his intervention to resolve the issue of Clr Madamombe, but Mr Zvidzai instead took sides and supported Clr Madamombe.
The council then resolved to approach Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo at which point Mr Zvidzai accused the councillors of dining with Zanu-PF.
"After we realised that the Urban Councils' Act is silent on the role of the Deputy Minister, we decided to approach Minister Chombo who is our boss," said Clr Matanhire.
Clr Muchemwa said he no longer recognises Mr Zvidzai as his boss.
"I no longer recognise him as my Deputy Minister. He is wrongly articulating the party position. Our party recognises Mr Daniso Wakatama as mayor. His communication is parallel to party directives," he said.
Clr Muchemwa accused Mr Zvidzai of selective support to suspended and dismissed MDC-T councillors.
"When Mr Wakatama and Mr Mazembe were suspended and eventually dismissed by Minister Chombo he never raised a finger. What is so special with Clr Madamombe?" he said.
Mr Mazembe said Mr Zvidzai should show magnanimity and either support all party councillors or completely keep his silence.
Clr Mafios said if Mr Zvidzai maintained his stance that he donated them to Zanu-PF, he should fire them from MDC-T. "We are fed up with Mr Zvidzai. We better listen to party secretary general Mr Tendai Biti. His incapacity is the reason at one time Mr Tsvangirai appointed Mr Tapiwa Mashakada to probe the operations of local authorities. We are even comfortable with his deputy at the party Mr Last Maengahama.
"Our leader (Morgan Tsvangirai) should appoint a committee to probe Mr Zvidzai's performance in all local authorities. The party will be shocked," she said.
Labels: MAYOR, MDC, SESSEL ZVIDZAI
posted by MrK @ 2:28 PM
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