MDC MPs ejected from swearing-in ceremony as ZANU PF appoints ‘unelected’ councillors

By Violet Gonda
2 September 2008

ZANU PF once again proved it does not play by the rules when on Tuesday it unilaterally appointed non-elected councillors at a swearing-in ceremony in Makoni, Manicaland province. There was a commotion between ZANU PF and MDC officials when the District Administrator announced that ‘Minister’ Ignatius Chombo had appointed eight non-elected councillors. This move riled MDC officials who charged that the appointments were made by someone who is ‘no longer Minister,’ and that the major stakeholders, the MDC were not consulted.

There is no new ‘government’ at present due to the stalemate between the main political parties, although Robert Mugabe is threatening to announce a cabinet without the main MDC formation.

Pishai Muchauraya the MDC MP for Makoni South said this showed the sheer arrogance of the regime to appoint the eight officials without consultation, especially as the MDC in now the majority party in this region. The Makoni area became volatile after the MDC won four of the five parliamentary seats in the district, and has the majority in the Makoni District council.

Muchauraya said a heated argument resulted in the riot squad being called in and the local MDC MPs and supporters, who had come to observe the swearing in ceremony, being violently ejected from the council chambers.

The DA claimed the unelected officials represented ‘special groups’ including the disabled, but those appointed where ZANU PF supporters including ‘Justice Minister’ Patrick Chinamasa’s wife Monica. Muchauraya said the other unelected councillors sworn in were ‘Dr Zata from Varichem Chemicals, a very senior ZANU PF official and Chief Chiduku who lost in the ZANU PF primaries for the Senate.’

The MDC MPs who were ejected from the ceremony include Muchauraya, John Nyamande and Proper Mutseyami. Scores of party supporters were allegedly assaulted.

The MDC won 23 rural council seats in March while ZANU PF won 16. The party said as a result of the appointment of the eight unelected councillors ZANU PF now has 24 seats, a significant number to control the council.