TICHAONA KATSVAMUTIMA IN CHINHOYI
Chinhoyi mayor, Garikai Dendera, has dumped the MDC Alliance for the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) as the fallout after the dismal performance in the March by-elections intensifies.
Douglas Mwonzora’s MDC Alliance performed badly in the by-elections, failing to win a single constituency or council ward.
“I got into the council through the MDC Alliance ticket. My party now is CCC,” Dendera told Business Times.
Rumour swirling is that Dendera was facing recall paving way for former mayor, Dyke Makumbi (CCC councillor), who bounced back into council after winning the election in ward 12.
Dendera said he was going to be guided by the party on the way forward.
A councillor, who requested anonymity for professional reasons, said Dendera was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“Dendera is lying by pretending that he has joined CCC. He is just trying to manage his politics. He is playing a double standard game,” said the councillor.
“Why were the other councillors recalled and he was left? That is a million dollar question he needs to answer first,” he said.
However, former mayor Makumbi refuted the allegation he was angling for Dendera’s mayoral post.
He said he was not aware that there were plans to replace Dendera with him.
“I don’t have problems with Dendera, as he belongs to MDC Alliance. My party is CCC and follows its protocol,” said Makumbi.
He said that if Dendera had crossed the floor, he had to say it in public.
“He cannot say it in his heart. He needs to say it in public,” Makumbi said.
He said the mayoral issue was not on his mind.
“What is important for me is to contribute to the efficient and effective service delivery to the residents,” he said.
MDC T spokesperson Witness Dube said it was the duty of local structures to raise such issues and act accordingly.
“The standing resolution is that all councillors and MPs who are under our MDC-T and are fronting other political parties must be recalled and that is a reality that can befall any public deployee who finds himself in that situation,” Dube said.
He added: “While it may be clear to one person they belong to one party you will find that they will be coming to MDC T and doing everything as expected, attending caucuses and contributing.
“It becomes very difficult for us as a party to know for sure who is with us and who is not and we don’t want to be found to be taking rushed decisions so it is on the individual bases and it is the political structures involved who have to raise those issues to us”.
Dube said councillors should focus on their work rather than hiding in between political parties.
