Guma reneges on resignation
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday October 27, 2015 15:08
A little over three months ago, Guma announced that he would quit as MP before the end of his term, but did not state the exact time of his exit.
The legislator even met various leaders in his constituency and informed them about his intentions to quit politics.
However, those closer to Guma have indicated that the legislator has not shown any intention to quit politics since his pronouncement.
Early this week Tati East branch chairperson Douglas Letsholathebe told Mmegi, “Guma has changed his initial stance and has since indicated that he is not quitting his position as MP.
As per our regular discussions he has stated that he is not going anywhere, but you can ask him the reasons why he is not quitting”.
Themashanga councillor Tobokani Kudzani also noted that Guma has been silent on his intentions. Kudzani, however, refused to discuss the matter further.
Last week Guma refused to talk to Mmegi on the matter. “You can write whatever you want,” he said.
This is the second time Guma has refused to discuss his proposed resignation with Mmegi despite having spoken to the publication when he first made his public pronouncements.
Then, Guma said that he planned quitting Parliament and partisan politics to focus on his assignment as a board member of the African Democracy Institute (ADI).
Interestingly, a month ago the BDP secretary general Botsalo Ntuane said that the Tati East MP has not indicated when he will quit politics.
“He still behaves like a fully fledged member of the BDP,” Ntuane said at the time.
Even political analyst Ndulamo Morima said in a recent interview that it was wrong and untidy for Guma to say that he would quit without stating the exact date he intended to do so.
“We may not know why he (Guma) did not state the date of his departure from office but it is a bit untidy for him to state that he will leave office without mentioning the exact date.
It leaves his constituents on suspension,” he said then, adding that it would have been best for Guma to consult before going public about it.
He also said that Guma’s decision not to state when he would quit, left his party and those who wanted to contest the election in suspension.
“Both the party and those interested in contesting election to replace him have to know when he will quit so that they prepare,” he said.
It is not the first time Guma has made threats to resign from politics. In 2008 he threatened to quit active politics after he was dropped from cabinet before he reneged on his decision.