Paul Nyathi

Recently elected Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has dismissed the Minister of Local Government July Moyo’s indications that he has been recalled from Council and Harare Mayorship.

Speaking to ZimEye.com on Tuesday morning, Mafume said that the recall is illegal as the People’s Democratic Party led by Licia Mativenga does not have the mandate to recall him.

“I have not received any correspondence on the recall, besides, the matter is currently before the courts,” said Mafume

“This outfit cannot just wake and recall people,” said Mafume referring to the Mativenga led PDP.

In a letter to Minister July Moyo, the PDP secretary-general Benjamin Rukanda said Mafume has ceased to represent the interests of the party, and therefore the recall.

“Following the resolution of the national executive committee of our party held on September 12, 2020 we hereby notify your good office and also declare in terms of section 278 as read with section 129 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe that the following councillors cease to belong to the People’s Democratic Party,” reads part of the letter.

Apart from Clr Mafume, the other councillors who were elected under the PDP ticket, but are now deemed to have ceased to represent interests of the party are Bulawayo Ward 24 Clr Arnold Batirai Dube and Mutare ward 12 Clr Simon Chabuka.

The letter also affirms that PDP was a member of the MDC-Alliance which was formed in terms of the consultative agreement signed on August 5, 2017 for and on behalf of the party by Mr Tendai Biti.

The letter stated that under the agreement seven political parties entered into a pre-election agreement known as the Composite Political Agreement for purposes of conducting the 2018 elections.

“In terms of the said agreement the member parties retained their individual identities. Our party was the party to which these councillors belonged at the time of the 2018 elections,” reads the letter.

“The members listed have by operation of clause 6. 4 (a) of the Constitution of the People’s Democratic Party automatically terminated their membership of the said party.”

MDC Alliance vice-president Tendai Biti and his old party People’s Democratic Party (PDP) last week approached Parliament seeking to stop the then planned recall of Mafume.

“Parliament has already made a decision that the MDC Alliance is a coalition and has allowed the MDC-T to recall Members of Parliament, while we disagree with that position, we have a responsibility to protect the PDP which is now part of the party called the MDC Alliance,” he said.

The attempts by Biti appear to have hit a brick wall as July Moyo indicated in a letter that he recognised the Mr Rukanda faction led by Mrs Lucia Matibenga.

Minister Moyo said he has since acted as per his mandate in order to fulfil constitutional provisions.