MDC president Nelson Chamisa has ordered Masvingo mayor Collin Maboke to resign.
Chamisa reportedly instructed the mayor to resign to save his seat or face expulsion for defying party directives.
Maboke refused to allow the party’s choice, Godfrey Kurauone to contest for the post as the sole MDC candidate in the mayoral elections held in 2018.
Maboke won the post with the backing of ZANU PF councillors.
MDC has seven council seats while ZANU PF has three seats in Masvingo.
During a provincial council meeting at Mucheke Hall on Saturday, Chamisa demanded that Maboke step aside. He said:
On the issue of the mayorship, Maboke has to resign. We are giving him one week to do so and he can remain councillor. If he does not resign, we will expel him from the party.
Maboke said he was not aware of Chamisa’s directive but analysts believe that were he to be expelled, he could still win the seat due to his popularity.
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