Mutambara suspends five legislators
By KING SHANGO
Published on: 30th June, 2009
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ZIMBABWE – HARARE – Arthur Mutambara has served five MDC-M legislators who are part of seven officials verbally suspended two months ago with official letters of suspension.
The MDC-M has written letters to the suspended members saying they will now be charged with urging party supporters to shift their allegiance from the party to the main MDC faction led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC).
The legislators who had only heard about their suspension through the media argued their suspension was null and void as they had not seen any official correspondence from the party.
The letters signed by the party’s national disciplinary committee chairperson, Lyson Mlambo, and dated June 16 said the conduct by the suspended party members violated Article 10.5 (b) of the party constitution.
“You addressed and urged party officials and supporters to shift their allegiance from the party to the MDC-T. This conduct is in violation of Article 10.5 (b) of the party constitution,” reads party of the letter written to one of the legislators facing disciplinary action.
The seven party members were expected to appear before the disciplinary committee last week on Saturday but the case was deferred after the suspended officials requested to attend the constitutional hearing meetings that were taking place last weekend.
The suspended officials are Abednico Bhebhe, the Member of Parliament for Nkayi South, Njabulo Mguni (Lupane East), Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East), Thandeka Mnkandla (Gwanda North) and Maxwell Dube (Tsholotsho South).
Last week two of the suspended legislators attended a victory rally for Bhebhe that was also attended by MDC vice president Thokozani Khuphe and other MDC-T officials, raising speculation that the suspended members could be on their way to joining the MDC.
Early this month the Mutambara’s formation suffered a body blow when the party’s entire Nkayi district leadership and all 23 councillors crossed the floor to join the MDC, in protest against the suspension of Bhebhe.
