{{Infighting in MDC-T’s Bulawayo structures has turned racial with some members yesterday seeking to block an aspiring white candidate from contesting the polls on the party’s ticket. Ironically, MDC-T.}}
is bent on protecting white property rights and the party is unapologetic about being an appendage of Western countries which launched and funded it from inception.
But in a strange turn of events, its members in Bulawayo are against the candidature of Ms Nikki Brown who is set to square off against Ms Dorcas Sibanda in primary elections for the Bulawayo Central seat.
Officials from the party yesterday stormed The Chronicle newsroom alleging that party leaders sought to impose Ms Brown and kick out their chosen candidate, Ms Sibanda.
MDC-T disowned the protesting officials.
“A Mr Chibaya from Harare came for the verification exercise on Sunday. He worked with provincial leaders, Tsepiso, Sithabile Moyo, Sandra Moyo and Mulandu Ncube to cause confusion and exclude a majority of people who were supposed to vote from the process,” an angry party member said.
MDC-T officials said they had been told that Mr Chibaya had come for a verification exercise, but they were shocked to learn that a vote had taken place without their knowledge.
“We were waiting to be told the names of the people who were supposed to be voted for and we were shocked to hear that voting had already taken place and Ms Sibanda would have to square off with Ms Brown at the primaries,” said another official.
“We do not want this white woman. She has been imposed by party leaders. These are the people that we fought to remove in the liberation struggle and the party is returning them.
We have written a letter to the provincial leadership and the national leaders and they have chosen to ignore it. When the elections come, they shall see our importance because we shall take our vote elsewhere,” said one of the members.
An MDC-T official yesterday said the party leadership had lost confidence in Ms Sibanda.
“Instructions came from the top. The leaders believe that if Dorcas stands for the party, they will lose the Bulawayo Central seat. Subjecting her to primaries is a way of easing her out of the structures with minimum problems,” said the official.
Both Ms Sibanda and Ms Brown declined comment and referred questions to the provincial spokesperson, Mr Mandla Sibanda.
MDC-T national spokesperson, Mr Douglas Mwonzora said the officials who stormed the Chronicle did not belong to the MDC-T.
“They are not from our party. I have spoken to Honourable Sibanda and she says none of her supporters went to the Chronicle. It is also not true that the party is trying to push her out from her seat. She has not lost it yet as she might win the primary election,” said Mr Mwonzora.
In Matabeleland North, fissures within the party widened after candidates who defected from the Professor Welshman Ncube-led MDC won the right to represent the party, ahead of “loyal members” who have been with the party since the 2005 split.
Members were riled when Mr Abednico Bhebhe, who is the MDC-T organising secretary, Mr Njabuliso Mguni, Mr Maxwell Dube, Mr Thembinkosi Sibindi, and Mr Dalumuzi Khumalo were elected to represent the party.
In Bulawayo, in Pumula and Luveve constituencies, losing candidates have since appealed to the party leaders not to recognise the confirmation exercise.
In Matabeleland South, councillors aligned to defectors from the MDC lost in the primaries, leaving the defectors staring defeat in the House of Assembly primaries.
Meanwhile, a showdown is looming within the MDC-T structures in Beitbridge district following reports of disgruntlement among some members who are accusing Beitbridge East constituency aspiring legislator, Mr Morgan Ncube and some councillors of vote buying during the primary elections.
The other party officials who have been fingered include Councillors Danmore Dzokurasa (Ward 1), Nicholas Tsvanhu (Ward 3), Win Mutasa (Ward 4), Elliot Mamombe (Ward 5), Elliot Maveza (Ward 6) and Berrita Muleya (Ward 6 Beitbridge Rural).
The MDC T held its primary elections at Dulibadzimu Stadium on Monday and at Lutumba Business Centre. The internal polls were presided over by the party’s national executive committee members, Messrs Elias Mudzuri and Amos Chibaya.
Mr Ncube, who is the party’s provincial youth assembly chairman for Matabeleland South, was nominated to contest in the harmonised elections for the Beitbridge East Constituency after winning by 190 votes against Mr Enos Tshili who garnered 66 votes.
Local businessman, Mr Moffat Ndou was elected to contest the Beitbridge West constituency unopposed.
Party officials who chose anonymity accused Mr Ncube of leading a faction which allegedly bought voters by supplying them with party regalia, beer and drinks.
They also accused him of filling several posts in the ward and district executive with his stooges.
“We want the whole process nullified. There were a lot of irregularities in the process and if this is not addressed by the party we are going to mobilise people in the district to vote for Zanu-PF.
“Dzokurasa was rejected by the executive in Ward 1 but we were surprised to see him participating in the primary elections. He has pending disciplinary cases for corruption,” said an official.
The official said they were also worried that people without identity documents including those not in party structures were allowed to vote.
They also claim that some councillors such as Tsvanhu and Maveza were of no fixed abode in the border town.
Sources also alleged that Clr Dzokurasa bought some voters with residential stands which he reportedly intended to allocate to them in the event that he was appointed council chairman.
Some of the contestants arrived late resulting in the election of five aspiring councillors unopposed. The five are: Mr Phathisani Ndou (Ward 1), Mr Abhureni Mudau (Ward 2), Joseph Gumbo (Ward 3), Ms Siphiwe Mudau (Ward 5), Mr Shone Nguluvhe (Ward 13) and Mr Freddy Moyo (Ward 15).
Contacted for comment, Mr Ncube denied that he was involved in vote rigging.
“I know those people and they are cowards. In fact, they know the proper party channels and where to take such grievances to rather than rushing to the media. It is unfortunate that they are running out of time since the five-day window period for them to make representations is also ending,” he said.
There was chaos in Marondera East where MDC-T presiding officer Ms Lucia Matibenga was involved in a scuffle with two aspiring candidates after she declared that Ms Tracy Mutinhiri would stand in that constituency unopposed.
Marondera Central primaries were marred by violence that resulted in the arrest of MDC-T activist Peter Nyadembera for inciting violence. Incumbent Ian Kay won the confirmation process.
Police confirmed the violence and said Nyadembera paid an admission of guilt fine.
In Chikomba Central, incumbent Moses Jiri failed to retain his seat after he failed confirmation with 41 votes. He failed against 362 votes calling for his exit.
Mutoko East failed to hold the primaries because of logistical problems and 150 people who were gathered at Mutoko Centre left before the elections team arrived.
In Mudzi South, Milton Kanemakuyu was unopposed because there are no MDC-T structures in the Zanu-PF stronghold.
Makoni South aspiring candidate Mr Geoffrey Nyarota alleged that a kitchen at his homestead was burnt on Wednesday night. Police could not be reached for comment last night. MDC-T primary elections have been postponed to June 9.
{Herald}
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