adminMidlands Correspondent
A Gweru City Council worker who was aspiring to be a Member of Parliament on an MDC-T ticket is counting his losses after he reportedly splashed about $5 000 on a campaign but still lost the election. Mr Livingstone Chimina was eyeing the Chiwundura constituency, but lost to his rival, Mr Timothy Mukahlera in the primary elections held on Saturday.
Sources within the MDC-T said Mr Chimina applied and received a loan of $5 000 from his employer, Gweru City Council.
They said he was now bitter after losing the election.
“Chimina applied for a loan from Gweru City Council for his campaign. He spent all the money on his campaign projects but was disappointed when he lost the primary elections to Mr Mukahlera,” said the source.
The source said Mr Chimina used part of the loan to build a makeshift house in Chiwundura after the electorate in Chiwundura had indicated that they would vote for a candidate who had a home in their area.
The other money was allegedly spent on buying suits for MDC-T ward chairpersons.
“He wanted to identify himself with the Chiwundura community by building a house in the area but the community still rejected him.
He would also buy beer and drinks for youths as well as hire trucks for his campaign but it still counted for nothing,” said the source.
The source said Mr Chimina held a meeting with a group of his campaign team on Sunday where he expressed anger after losing the election.
The source said Mr Chimina accused his campaign team of sabotaging him.
“He was bitter during the meeting and revealed to everyone that he used a lot of money for the campaigns. He also accused his campaign team of double dealing after Mr Mukahlera won the election resoundingly,” said the source.
Mr Chimina declined to comment over reports that he applied for a campaign loan when he was contacted yesterday.
He was, however, adamant that the primaries were still to be concluded, adding that he still had a chance of winning.
“Who told you those lies? Besides, you cannot say I lost before the elections have been concluded. Other wards failed to vote and so the race is still on,” he said before abruptly terminating the call.
The sources said Mr Chimina lodged an appeal to the party’s national executive that the elections were rigged after some of the wards failed to vote.
The affected wards were Gweru’s Villages 14 and 19.
Online Reporter