tTHE MDC Alliance has reportedly expelled Cowdray Park aspiring councillor Ms Nomagugu Mloyi after she refused to withdraw from contesting in the Ward 28 by-election slated for March 30 but a defiant Ms Mloyi rubbished the purported expulsion, describing it as “fake”.
She said on Thursday she would go ahead with her campaign and no one could stop her.
“I’ve seen the letter (expulsion) on social media but I think it is fake. No one has officially informed me that I’ve been fired from the party. I’m still contesting the Cowdray Park ward because if I withdraw I would have hurt a lot of people who want me to represent them. I’m still contesting as an MDC Alliance candidate because I was cheated in the primary election,” said Ms Mloyi.
Even if Ms Mloyi is fired from the party, she can still contest as an MDC Alliance candidate.
The party’s national chairperson, Ms Thabitha Khumalo, wrote to inform Ms Mloyi of her expulsion from the party.
MDC Alliance sources said yesterday the letter was leaked on social media before it could be handed to Ms Mloyi.
Ms Mloyi was fired for insisting on contesting the Ward 28 post despite losing to Alderman Collet Ndlovu in the party’s primary elections held on Thursday last week.
Ald Ndlovu is seeking a third term as Ward 28 councillor while Ms Mloyi is a first time contender.
The ward fell vacant following the death of MDC Alliance councillor Hapson Ncube in December.
In the letter, Ms Khumalo said Ms Mloyi had been fired for being rebellious.
“Following your decision to uphold your local government candidature for Ward 28, Cowdray Park by-election after having lost the party’s primary election to Mr Collet Ndlovu on 28 February 2019, you have automatically expelled yourself from the party,” read Ms Khumalo’s letter.
“Mr Collet Ndlovu is the official and sole candidate and representative of the MDC Alliance in the Ward 28 by-election due on the 30th of March after having won the primary election in which you contested.”
She added: “The affidavit you signed to withdraw your nomination as a candidate from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in the event that you were going to lose the primary election is there as evidence.
“After losing the said primary election you reneged on your earlier agreed position. I also note that you continue to campaign as a candidate with your campaign teams fully on the ground in contravention of the party’s position.”
Ms Khumalo said Ms Mloyi violated the MDC Alliance constitution hence the party’s decision to expel her from the party.
“Accordingly, you are therefore hereby expelled from the party with immediate effect. You are being ordered to surrender all party property in your possession to the party. You are also hereby instructed to stop using anything to do with the MDC Alliance i.e logo, picture, structures, persons, colour and names of the president in your posters and campaign materials,” she said.
Ms Khumalo could not be reached for comment on her cellphone.
However, party sources confirmed the development.
“The letter was supposed to be handed to her on Saturday during the provincial inter-district meeting but some people just decided to leak it on social media. But she has been fired. She could have been used as a pawn in factional fights and has been sacrificed as senior party officials battle it out for the party’s control ahead of congress,” said the official.
Ald Ndlovu recently told The Chronicle that he had incomplete projects he wants to finish in Cowdray Park hence his decision to contest the ward election again.
State Media