THE MDC is set to recall from Parliament about 10 MPs sympathetic to Nelson Chamisa before commencement of debate on the 2022 National Budget amid fears they would distort its position, a top official has said.
MDC national chairperson Morgen Komichi, pictured, told the Daily News yesterday that the party had failed in its efforts to convince the legislators and councillors to dump Chamisa’s faction in favour of party leader Douglas Mwonzora.
“We have already compiled the final list of the people who are going to be recalled. We are ready to dispatch it to Parliament and the Local Government minister any time from now
“They are not contributing to the party policies, not attending our parliamentary caucuses and they are also absconding from strategic meetings that give direction to our debates in Parliament because they are taking instructions from elsewhere,” Komichi said.
“Right now, we would want our MPs to debate the national budget in accordance with the party’s directive, so we will not allow our contributions to be distorted.
“We are, therefore, going to ensure that they don’t continue to be more of a hindrance than help hence the impending recalls.”
The Midlands Senator said the MDC had also received recommendations to recall several councillors across the country for the same reasons.
“In all this, we are being guided by the recommendations that came from the provinces of the party.
“While we don’t want to pre-empt our strategic plan, we have said we cannot be represented in Parliament and local authorities by people who do not belong to us. They are representing the interest of another organisation that we don’t know,” said Komichi.
Among those targeted for the dreaded chop in the latest instalment of the senseless bloodletting gutting the country’s main opposition are Zengeza West MP Job “Wiwa” Sikhala and Harare West legislator Joanna Mamombe.
The others include Chitungwiza North MP Godfrey Sithole, Costa Machingauta (Budiriro), James Chidhakwa (Mabvuku-Tafara), Maxwell Mavhunga (Chitungwiza South), Goodrich Chimbaira (Zengeza East), Hwange Central’s Daniel Molokele, James Sithole (Makokoba) and Anele Ndebele (Magwegwe).
In September, Komichi gave one month to “recalcitrant” legislators and councillors who were continuing to pay their allegiance to Chamisa to “mend their ways” or face the chop.
But Mwonzora gave them a reprieve claiming that some had clandestinely approached him, pleading for clemency after they failed to publicly pledge allegiance to him, saying he was to engage them individually.
Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, Sikhala said he had not been approached by the MDC leader, saying, in any event, it was unnecessary because he had made public his support for Chamisa.
“He (Mwonzora) never did (approach me) because he knows it (supporting Mwonzora) is an impossibility. He is a normal person and he knows the truth and it’s honourable for him to leave it that way.
“Why should I be talked to when it is known on earth and heaven that I belong to the MDC Alliance? The threats of recall are a tired song.
“Should I kill myself because I am being told that I will not be allowed to debate the budget? Let those who debate, debate and let those debarred, debarred. My children won’t lose a meal because of that,” Sikhala said.
On his part, Molokele simply said “Mwonzora has not approached me probably because he is aware of where my allegiance lies”.
