Zimbabwe's MDC Weighs Action Against Alleged Rogue Mayor

Sources in Masvingo, southeast Zimbabwe, said the Movement for Democratic Change formation of Morgan Tsvangirai might expel Masvingo Mayor Femias Chakabuda from the party or force him to resign amid charges he defected to the former ruling ZANU-PF party as political violence raged in the approach to June's presidential run-off election.

Chakabuda denied the allegations in an interview with VOA.

The MDC sources said Chakabuda and two other councilors were found guilty of misconduct by a party commission which completed a probe this week.

The secretary of that panel, Lawson Mapfaira, confirmed to VOA that the commission was investigating Chakabuda and councilors Daniel Muchuchutu and Selina Maridza.

Mapfaira added that the panel was scheduled to meet with the three councilors Thursday evening, but declined to comment further. MDC Masvingo Provincial Chairman Wilstaff Chitemere also declined to comment on the matter to VOA.

In an interview, Chakabuda dismissed the allegations as malicious and unfair to the MDC as well as himself, telling reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that he never shifted his political loyalties to ZANU-PF or attended any of its meetings.

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