THE MDC-T yesterday suspended acting Harare mayor Chris Mbanga, accusing him of conniving with Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere to defy the opposition’s directives at Town House.
MDC-T local government secretary Eddie Cross confirmed the development and said among other issues, Mbanga was being accused of refusing to recognise the appointment of James Mushore as town clerk.
Mbanga also stands accused of causing the suspension of mayor Bernard Manyenyeni.
Both Mbanga and Manyenyeni were elected councillors on an MDC-T ticket in 2013.
Cross said Mbanga would soon appear before the party’s disciplinary committee chaired by MDC-T national chairperson, Lovemore Moyo.
“The secretary-general of the party, Douglas Mwonzora, wrote a letter to councillor Mbanga of the decision to suspend him for defying a party directive and going against what he agreed to abide to in 2013,” he said.
“Before July 2013, every member signed an undertaking that they will take instructions from the party and he is now doing the opposite.
So he will have to be asked by the disciplinary committee on the matter.
At law, we have the right to recall him from Town House and if the disciplinary committee finds him guilty of the case, appropriate measures will be taken which could include re-call or suspension among other issues.”
Last week, Manyenyeni was sent back home on allegations of refusing to order an audit of council’s business units, leaving Mbanga in charge of city business.
Mbanga immediately flexed his muscles by sending Mushore home, thereby courting anger from the MDC-T.
He is also accused of supping with Kasukuwere, who is Zanu PF political commissar, a move many in the opposition allege is tantamount to being a sell-out.
MDC-T councillors alleged Kasukuwere was using Mbanga to divide them and the deputy mayor has been promised to take over the hot seat once Manyenyeni was fired or to be included in the commission being mooted by Zanu PF as it reportedly seeks to dissolve the entire council.
Councillors alleged Mbanga has had a frosty working relationship with Manyenyeni since he took over from the late Thomas Muzuva, a charge the former chief of staff in Morgan Tsvangirai’s office denies.
“That’s utter rubbish. I have a good working relationship with my boss (Manyenyeni),” Mbanga said when NewsDay called him for comment yesterday.