adminGeorge Maponga Masvingo Bureau
MDC-Alliance structures in Masvingo last weekend resisted attempts by the party national leadership to dissolve the provincial executive led by trade unionist Mr James Gumbi.
Mr Gumbi, who retained his post as Masvingo provincial chair during last year’s national congress, is accused of presiding over paralysis of party activities and failing to recruit new members among a litany of other allegations.
He also allegedly frustrated efforts by the MDC-Alliance national leadership to boot out Masvingo Mayor Councillor Collins Maboke, who was supposed to be replaced by Ward Four Councillor Godfrey Kurauone.
Mr Gumbi is said to have masterminded the decision to stop Transform Zimbabwe party leader Mr Jacob Ngarivhume from being the sole MDC-A candidate in Bikita East parliamentary constituency in the July 2018 harmonised elections.
The MDC-A ended up fielding two candidates Mr Ngarivhume and Mr Bonface Mudzingwa with the latter allegedly being backed by Mr Gumbi.
Sources in the party said there were plans to dissolve the provincial executive and appoint a new one with several MDC-A officials among them Masvingo District chair Mr Murangagwa Chanyau, touted as possible candidates to fill the chair’s post.
A high-powered delegation led by the party’s national organising secretary, Mr Amos Chibaya, on Saturday attended a tense provincial council meeting at the MDC-A headquarters in Rhodene suburb that was attended by 18 party districts out of the 26 in the province.
Efforts by Mr Chibaya and his delegation to arm-twist the structures into turning their backs on Mr Gumbi and his executive hit a brickwall.
Party structures reaffirmed their support for Mr Gumbi and his executive leaving Mr Chibaya and his team from the national organising department in a quandary.
The MDC-A leadership wants to change the party’s guard in Masvingo after poor showings in elections held in the province since July 2018, which have been dominated by the ruling Zanu PF party.
Mr Chibaya could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was unreachable yesterday while Mr Gumbi refused to comment although he admitted the meeting with the team from the national organising department took place.
MDC-A Masvingo provincial spokesperson Mr Derrick Charamba denied that there were plans to dissolve his executive.
“In some informal discussions that I have held with other colleagues I have asked them which section of the party’s constitution will be used by the national party leadership to dissolve our executive and nobody is yet to give me an answer,” said Mr Charamba.
He said it was natural to have discussions on the state of the party.
“Naturally it is expected for senior party leaders to ask leaders from the structures whether the party is in a good state in their areas. He (Mr Chibaya) just asked them (party district members) about the state of the party in their areas and they said all was well.”
Mr Charamba said Mr Chibaya and his team were in Masvingo to explain to provincial council members, the party’s 2020 roadmap and also get feedback from party leaders at both provincial and district level on the state of the movement.
Mr Gumbi has been involved in a bitter tussle for the control of the MDC A here with another faction led by ex-Masvingo Central legislator Mr Tongai Matutu who was disqualified from contesting against the former for the chairmanship post in the run-up to last year’s national congress.
Online Reporter