Rattled Zanu PF, peeved by the rate its councillors are beginning to appreciate the value of the Communities in Action campaign, has axed Mutare Rural District Councillor for Ward 4, John Masondo, accusing him of associating with the opposition.
In an interview with 263chat Masondo said it all began when he attended a radio Show that was sponsored by the Election Resource Centre (ERC) dubbed Communities in Action.
During the radio show Masondo mentioned that leaders had failed to respond to the needs of people with disabilities but some like him were beginning to see the value of respecting their rights (people with disabilities)because of such programmes like the Communities in Action.
The Communities in Action campaign intends to increase and strengthen the organised and active involvement of citizens on local governance issues. Much of the work focuses on helping citizens engage local leaders on substantive issues of community action.
This, Masunda said, angered his superiors who felt that he was not supposed to utter that they had failed to respond to the issues of people with disabilities.
“They were disappointed with me for attending the Star FM radio show. They said I was not supposed to say that leaders including Members of Parliament and Senators had failed to champion the cause of people living with disabilities.
“They also served me with a letter of expulsion accusing me of dinning with Zimbabwe People First,” Masondo said.
Zimbabwe People First was formed by former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her allies after being expelled from Zanu PF and government on allegations of trying to topple President Mugabe.
In a letter dated 30 August 2016 signed by the Zanu PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo, warring Zanu PF said it expelled the councillor for dinning with Zimbabwe People First.
“Sitting at its 301th Ordinary session on the 3rd of August 2016 at ZANU PF, the politburo endorsed the national disciplinary committee’s decision to expel you from Zanu PF party with immediate effect. Having gone through your case the Committee found overwhelming evidence against you on your charge of actively participating in the Zimbabwe People First party.
“Your actions violated the amended Zanu PF party constitution article 28 section 262 (c) read in conjunction with article 3 of section 21 leading to your expulsion. Be guided accordingly,” read the dismissal letter.
The Communities in Action Campaign is creating a platform for engagement between citizens and their local leaders that is the village heads, chiefs and the elected councillors. The campaign was born out of the realisation of lack of engagement platforms between local leaders and citizens.
