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Chronicle Reporters
The rift within the MDC-T party yesterday forced some party members to file their nomination papers as independents.
In Bulawayo four aspiring MPs and two councillors parted ways with the party, citing massive rigging and cronyism, which they claimed was facilitated by the provincial chairperson by Mr Gorden Moyo during the party’s primary elections.
Mr Samuel Sandla Khumalo filed his nomination papers as an independent to contest the Pelandaba-Mpopoma constituency that he lost under controversial circumstances to Mr Bekithemba Nyathi, the MDC-T youth provincial chairperson.
Councillor Prince Dube also filed his papers as an independent to contest the Emakhandeni constituency which he initially won but was unilaterally removed by the party leadership in favour of Mr Dingilizwe Tshuma.
Mr Felix Magalela Mafa and Mr Kidwell Mujuru also decided to go it alone in Magwegwe and Luveve constituencies.
Councillors Phinias Z Ndlovu of Ward 14 and Thembeni Khoza of Ward 12, will be vying for re-election in their wards as independents after also claiming that “an undemocratic” election process led to their ouster in the primaries.
In Matabeleland South, Mr Solani Moyo, the provincial organising secretary defied the party in protest against the imposition of Mr Norman Mpofu who defected from the Professor Welshman led MDC to stand in Bulilima East.
In the Midlands, Gweru Mayor, Clr Tedius Chimombe will stand as an Independent in Gweru Urban constituency while former Zvishavane Town Council chairperson, Mr Aluwis Zhou will fight for the Zvishavane-Ngezi seat. The two were dismissed from the MDC-T by the party’s national executive allegedly over corruption.
Six other MDC-T councillors will stand as independent candidates in the Gweru Urban Local Authority elections.
In an interview at yesterday, Clr Dube said he had not turned his back on the party but had left to expose the rot in Bulawayo.
“I am loyal to the party and its ideals. However, the party’s principles are not being observed in Bulawayo. I won the primaries but I was only told this morning that I will not be the party’s candidate for Emakhandeni,” said Clr Dube.
Mr Mafa said tribalism had destroyed the party in Bulawayo.
“I am not turning my back on the MDC-T. The truth is that it has become impossible to work with the leaders in Bulawayo. I am one of the founding members of that party but they have unfairly reversed the result of an election that I won to accommodate Mr Anele Ndebele who recently came from abroad to join the MDC-T,” said Mr Mafa.
Online Reporter