Residents demand resignation of Zanu PF candidate from residents association
Nkosikhona Sibanda
Some Plumtree residents are up in arms with Combined Residents and Development Association Chairperson, Richard Khumalo whom they are calling on to step down following his participation and subsequent victory in the ZANU PF primary elections.
In a Whatsapp platform chat, a resident by the name Similo said, “By virtue of coming clean that he’s now a politician he ceases to hold a post in the residents association. Richard Khumalo should leave this post for others. In fact an election should be held to fill the vacant post,” she said.
However, other residents jumped to Khumalo’s defence arguing that, just like every citizen, Khumalo is entitled to the right of association.
“So, you mean all along he wasn’t a politician. Now that he is Zanu PF he automatically becomes a politician?”
The residents association leader, Khumalo also sprang to his defense arguing that matters to do with development of residents should be separated from one’s political affiliation.
“For your own information, it is my democratic right to be in politics like everyone else, but when it comes to development I is set aside politics. So Plumtree Combined Residents and Development Association is for residents as it is a local community based organisation. In issues of development we don’t need to be political,” he said.
Another resident with a username, Lue was not satisfied by Khumalo’s explanation. “Just recuse yourself. There is a lot of conflict in all this. You have seen how it goes here when engagements are made in this group and party politics enters the fray. Why are you so eager when it’s apparent that you cannot fulfil residents’ needs from across the political divide when you belong to a party. You have to give up your post unless you have ulterior motives to derail the association or render it toothless.This is a clear case of conflict of interest.”
Other residents suggested that Khumalo should be given a chance to continue leading residents until he is fully elected as a ward councilor in the upcoming elections.
But others said, it is now clear which master he wants to serve. According to the residents association constitution, leaders of the association cannot hold political office and this has been used by Khumalo’s supporters who argue that he is just a candidate for now and does not currently hold political office. They argue that if he gets elected into a public political office he would then need to resign from the residents association.
