Own Correspondent|Masvingo mayor, advocate Collins Maboke, yesterday vowed to continue with his duties at Town House despite being ordered to step down by party leader Mr Nelson Chamisa.
On Saturday, Chamisa held a meeting in Masvingo where he ordered the mayor to step down and revert to an ordinary councillor, or risk being fired from the party altogether if he does not step down.
But Maboke, who enjoys grassroots support in Masvingo, is unmoved, with sources saying even if he was fired the seat would fall vacant and he could still win it back as an independent. Maboke says he will not respond to Chamisa’s threats because they were not communicated to him in writing.
“I was away on the day in question (last Saturday) attending a family bereavement after my brother passed on,” he said. “I cannot be bound by an announcement made in public, moreso when I was not even present at the said meeting.
“The party has official channels of communicating and I am yet to receive anything, so as of now I am continuing with my mayoral duties. In the event I receive official communication I will then make available my response.
“Right now I am coming from a meeting that had been scheduled with the Minister (of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Cde July Moyo), who unfortunately was not available as he was attending to challenges associated with Cyclone Idai in Manicaland.”
It is believed any knee-jerk decision by Mr Chamisa to fire Cllr Maboke would boomerang on the MDC leader as the Ward 2 councillor enjoys strong support and will likely retain the ward as an independent candidate in the event of a by-election.
Chamisa wants Cllr Maboke to pave way for Ward 4 Cllr Godfrey Kurauone. Mr Chamisa’s ultimatum came after the onslaught against Cllr Maboke appeared to have fizzled out.
Mr Chamisa insisted that the MDC Alliance has rules that should be followed by all party members, including Cllr Maboke, pointing out that he should heed the party’s call to step down or risk summary expulsion from MDC.
Cllr Maboke yesterday said he was not bound by an announcement made by Mr Chamisa in his absence and vowed to continue with his mayoral duties.