admin
Richard Muponde, Plumtree Correspondent
AN aspiring councillor from the MDC-T led by Mr Nelson Chamisa has defected to the rival faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe after accusing the party of imposing candidates during the primary elections.
Plumtree aspiring councillor for Ward Three Mr Richard Khumalo said he was agitated by the way the primary elections were conducted a fortnight ago.
He said the elections were characterised by chaotic scenes amid allegations of intimidation and wanton disqualification of aspiring candidates and voters.
The chaos was more pronounced in the Local Government elections in Plumtree Town where some aspiring candidates threatened to quit the party if their grievances were not resolved.
Mr Khumalo said the party’s provincial leadership was reluctant to deal with the complaints hence he has decided to shift allegiance to Dr Khupe’s faction.
“The province seems to be downplaying the issue. That thing was done deliberately. I will try to use MaKhupe’s MDC-T ticket to counter their undemocratic tenets especially those who rigged. MaKhupe was failing to get people with influence on the ground in Plumtree, now it is her chance,” said Mr Khumalo.
Asked whether he has already approached the Dr Khupe faction, Mr Khumalo said that was work in progress.
“We are still discussing, as you know in politics there is no permanent friend or enemy,” he said.
Mr Khumalo was one of the aspiring candidates who accused sitting councillors of intimidation, rigging and ring fencing their positions with the blessings of the provincial leadership.
Sources in the party said all the primary elections process in Plumtree were a sham and most members were not happy.
The latest development comes barely a week after a senior party leader and aspiring legislator for Zengeza West, Mr Job Sikhala claimed that some members of the opposition were backstabbing the party’s president Mr Chamisa by interfering with the candidate selection process.
@richardmuponde
derick.khumalo