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Lungile Tshuma
After its chaotic confirmation process and widespread imposition of candidates in many constituencies countrywide, MDC-T has seen many of its supporters defecting to other parties or supporting independents. Many MDC-T members who were not happy with the way primaries were conducted, filed their papers as independent candidates in areas like Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and Midlands.
There is now a war between the so-called rebels who decided to stand as independents after being sidelined by party heavyweights and the party leadership. The rebels hardened their positions by forming a command structure in Gweru recently.
The party is failing to deal with rifts created by its national leadership created in Luveve, Bulilima East, Magunje, Umzingwane, Makoni Central and Chikanga-Dangamvura constituencies. At a rally in Masvingo last week, party leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai resorted to attacking his own supporters after they booed most of the party’s official candidates whom the supporters say were not elected.
In Magunje, the party’s candidate, Mr Tawanda Magunje, a Bulawayo businessman was also booed as Mr Tsvangirai introduced him at a rally.
In Bulilima East, the party deputy president, Ms Thokozani Khupe and Mr Norman Mpofu, whom Mr Tsvangirai imposed on the constituency, were humiliated after villagers did not turn up for two consecutive meetings.
Villagers said Mr Mpofu was imposed by the leadership and they will not waste their time voting for him as he is not the people’s choice.
In Luveve, party supporters are reportedly moving around de-campaigning Mr Reggie Moyo, the official party candidate and rallying behind Mr Kidwell Mujuru whom they say, was cheated during primary elections. Mr Mujuru is running as an independent candidate.
An MDC-T official in Luveve who declined to be named said Bulawayo provincial chairman; Mr Gorden Moyo and Ms Khupe were to blame for pre-determining primaries. This, he said would cost the party.
“The party was destined to win these elections overwhelmingly but what Khupe and Gorden are doing will surely ruin the party,” said an official, “Here in Luveve, Reggie will not win this seat. We want Kidza (Mr Mujuru) because he was openly cheated during the primary elections. Reggie ran away with ballot boxes and was later declared a winner.
This tribal stunt that they are preaching will ruin the party. We are working hard informing citizens that they should not vote for Reggie. In the 2008 elections, Reggie was rescued by Cowdray Park as the area overwhelmingly voted for him. This time around, the situation has changed and Kidza is now in the driving seat.”
In 2008 Mr Moyo narrowly won the seat but with his party fielding two candidates by default this time around, and his contested candidacy, he faces an uphill task on 31 July. He got 3 325, Mr Esaph Mdlongwa (MDC) got 3 178, while Mrs Getrude Moyo (Zanu PF) got 940.
“We understand that the role of MP is to make laws in Parliament but that does not mean that as an MP the person should not be with the people,” the official added.
“There are times when residents will need to celebrate and or mourn with him,” said the MDC-T official. Mr Moyo was not attending funerals and he was insulting us as he was telling people that he is not a funeral parlour. When we democratically exercised our right to remove him through voting in a primary election, he cheated and leaders are mum about it.
What Khupe should understand is that this is not Makokoba where she imposes candidates. In Luveve we say Reggie haalume (he won’t win).”
In Bulilima East, daggers have been drawn against Mr Norman Mpofu. The bitterness is so intense that MDC-T officials are openly declaring they will not allow an “alien” to rule in their area.
MDC-T Bulilima East youth chairperson, Mr Trymore Mpofu, said people will not vote for Mr Norman Mpofu because he was imposed and is not the candidate that people want.
Mr Mpofu said a number of council candidates were also imposed on the people.
“The president (Morgan Tsvangirai) came and tried to beg people to support Mr Mpofu but people openly told him that they want primary elections,” said the youth leader.
“People wanted Mr Solani Moyo to represent them. After realising that the party had imposed Mr Mpofu, people advised Mr Moyo to stand as an independent candidate. We are supporting Solani Moyo and we will work hard to ensure that he wins. What is also annoying people is that Norman had to impose his people to run as councillors. He imposed his wife Amanda Mpofu to run as councillor for Ward Six.
Other people who were imposed are Similo Ndlovu who was supposed to contest with Richard Khumalo for Ward Three, the other person is Mr Phiri for Ward Five who was supposed to go for primary elections with Mr Methuseli Gumede. Mr Norman Ncube for Ward One was also imposed as he was supposed to be contested by Mr Pheleza Nyathi. Mr Cornelius Nyathi of Ward One was also imposed as he was supposed to face Mr Mirrolack Ndlovu in the primaries.
“Due to imposition of candidates, Mr Gumede, Mr Khumalo and Reckon Mpofu had to file their papers as independent candidates. On the ground we have support and it will be a miracle for Norman Mpofu to win this seat. What party leaders did show was that they are very disrespectful and they take our views for granted.
The truth is that Norman Mpofu does not come from this area and we do not want a foreigner to come and lead us,”
The youth chairperson said Mr Tsvangirai was aware that people of Bulilima were against the candidature of Mr Mpofu.
“Tsvangirai asked me to convince people to rally behind Mr Mpofu since I am the chairperson. I openly told him that I will not do that because people wanted to choose their leader. He came and tried to convince people to vote for him since the party wanted to pay him back for voting for Mr Lovemore Moyo as the Speaker of Parliament.
We will not allow anyone to come and impose a candidate in our constituency for whatever reason,” he said.
In Masvingo last week, Mr Tsvangirai exploded after party loyalists challenged him on candidates. He told them to keep quiet because, according to him, they had stayed at home instead of going out to vote for candidates of their choice during the party’s primary elections.
“Maive kumba musipo. Iko zvino motanga kuti vakaimpozwa. Maiti vanosarudzwa nani? Ndochii ichocho? You should not just complain because you stayed at home instead of voting for people whom you wanted to become your candidates,” Mr Tsvangirai charged.
Dr Lawton Hikwa, a political commentator and Nust lecturer said MDC-T was committing political suicide.
“Imposition of candidates has always been suicidal for political parties. People will certainly not vote for imposed candidates,” he said.
Mr Dumisani Mpofu, another political analyst said imposition of candidates shows that the MDC-T is not the party of excellence as it claims to be.
“This shows lack of democracy. What happens at party level translates to what will happen when the party is voted into office. People are being imposed on the basis that they are friends with party leaders,” said Mr Mpofu.
Online Reporter