MDC-T sweats over mayors

via MDC-T sweats over mayors | The Zimbabwe Independent

THE MDC-T national leadership is sweating over the selection of mayors for Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Mutare amid revelations provincial structures are resisting imposition of senior party members who lost in the general elections to occupy the posts.

The race to lead the Harare and Bulawayo councils has intensified among senior party leaders since the MDC-T lost.

The mayorship of the country’s largest cities comes with the added responsibility of chairing the newly established metropolitan provincial councils.

The battle for mayoral posts comes hard on the heels of a party still trying to come to terms with the consequences of imposing parliamentary candidates, a move that resulted in 29 party members contesting as independents.

Among those vying for the Harare mayorship are the party’s deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma, national spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora, former senator Obert Gutu and former councillor Warship Dumba.

In Bulawayo, the race pits national chairperson Lovemore Moyo, lawyer Kacuca Phulu and National University of Science and Technology lecturer Mandla Nyathi.

Ironically, both Mwonzora and Moyo are vying for positions in other provinces having lost parliamentary elections in their backyards in Nyanga North (Manicaland) and Matobo South (Matabeleland South) respectively.

Chitungwiza aspirants include former Housing minister Fidelis Mhashu, Isaac Nyemba and Fortune Mangwiro.

MDC-T secretary for local government Blessing Chebundo said: “The party is still making consultations and assessment on those who have applied for the positions of mayor in local authorities we won. The process starts at the national elections directorate and only those names that qualify will be forwarded to the local government secretariat.”