MAKOKOBA Senator Matson Hlalo risks expulsion from the MDC-T following his refusal to withdraw a court challenge seeking to bar deputy Bulawayo mayor Gift Banda from assuming the post of party provincial chairperson.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Hlalo’s agent Swithern Chirowodza yesterday said MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai would not intimidate the Senator into withdrawing his court challenge after the former Prime Minister had ordered him to do so or face expulsion.
Tsvangirai, a fortnight ago, imposed Banda as the substantive provincial chairperson for Bulawayo despite a High Court ruling barring the latter from assuming the vacant post.
The MDC-T leader, during the meeting held at the party’s offices, warned Hlalo against pursuing the court case and ordered him to withdraw the case or face expulsion.
During Tsvangirai’s address to journalists at the Press club yesterday, he said Banda was the substantive chairperson before ordering Hlalo to withdraw his case and work with the deputy mayor.
However, Hlalo’s agent, who accused Tsvangirai of dictatorial tendencies, said the court challenge against Banda will not be withdrawn.
“In any society, approaching the courts is the most civilised form of resolving disputes and anybody, especially a political leader, who threatens a person with expulsion solely on the basis of that person going to court, is a dictator.
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“Hlalo is not withdrawing the court challenge because we are certain that the courts will find that Banda does not have the requisite qualifications in terms of the party’s constitution to hold the post of provincial chairperson,” Chirowodza said yesterday.
Hlalo, in his court challenge, argues Banda should be barred from assuming the post because his election was fraudulent.
He cites violence, vote-buying and reports of ballot-stuffing during the polls.
Hlalo also argued Banda did not meet guidelines set by the party on the election of office bearers, saying therefore, his election was unconstitutional.
In April, Hlalo dragged MDC-T national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe and Banda to court for defying a ruling barring Banda from masquerading as the provincial chairperson.
