MDC-T councillor resigns

Clr Jiyane resigned from the  MDC-T last year saying he preferred being an independent councillor.

The party has been rocked by escalating infighting and factionalism, which has resulted in the suspension of provincial organising secretary, Mr Thembinkosi Sibindi and the deputy provincial secretary, Ms Angeline Kheswa last month.

A senior MDC-T member in the province told Chronicle yesterday that Clr Nkomazana, who is the party’s provincial secretary for local government, tendered his resignation letter to the party’s provincial executive at the weekend.

“Clr Nkomazana has quit the MDC-T and now wants to be an independent candidate. He is complaining of gross interference by the MDC-T senior leadership in the running of council business.

“He is also complaining of imposition of candidates by         MDC-T officials from Harvest House in which MPs and senators do not want to be challenged during primary elections,” said the party member.

“Clr Nkomazana says the manner in which the party is being run was against the democratic values the MDC-T claims to represent. He said it was better to leave the party and serve his community outside party politics. He has written a resignation letter that he submitted to the leadership on Saturday.”

Clr Nkomazana is the former campaign manager for Hwange Central MP, Mr Brian Tshuma. He is also the former chairperson of the MDC-T’s Hwange district.

The party member said frustration was rife among MDC-T supporters in the province who felt the senior leadership has betrayed them.

Contacted for comment Clr Nkomazana confirmed the resignation and accused the MDC-T leadership of running the party down.

“Yes it is true. I have resigned because the manner in which things are done in the MDC-T is wrong. The recent visit to the district by the party’s investigation team was not done properly.

“The team came without informing us and made unfounded allegations against us. I was in Kariba at that time. They accused me of not giving stands to MDC-T supporters, who after all did not apply,” said Clr Nkomazana who also chairs the Hwange Local Board.

 

“They also accused me of not giving tenders to party supporters and issues of recruitment. I could not stand all that frustration and I resolved to resign. I personally wrote a resignation letter, which I submitted to the provincial secretary Mr Gift Mabhena during a meeting on Saturday. I did this to ensure that my resignation was official and not hearsay.”

Clr Nkomazana said things were not rosy within the MDC-T and indicated that more suspensions were looming, as the party sought to mend its tattered image.

“More councillors are going to be fired and the people who elected us on the ground are so bitter and shocked about what is happening,” he said.

MDC-T Matabeleland North provincial chairman Mr Sengezo Tshabangu could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was off while Mr Mabhena’s mobile repeatedly rang unanswered.

The MDC-T is already on the panic mode after Zanu-PF made inroads in its Matabeleland North constituencies following a number of rallies by Umguza MP, Dr Obert Mpofu.

At the same time the party’s structures have reportedly rejected the candidature of Mr Abednigo Bhebhe and Mr Njabuliso Mguni in the next election.

Mr Bhebhe, the MDC-T deputy organising secretary wants to contest as MP for Nkayi South, while Mr Mguni wants to contest in Lupane East.

The two were once MPs in these constituencies under the MDC ticket before they were fired and joined the MDC-T.

Party supporters have warned that escalating infighting within the MDC-T was further weakening the party ahead of next year’s poll.

MDC-T deputy president Ms Thokozani Khupe is believed to be the hand behind the skirmishes that have sown discord within the MDC-T.

Party insiders have warned that the squabbles within their party were likely to result in a major revolt against party president Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.

The MDC-T has also been dogged by factionalism in Bulawayo with rival factions aligned to provincial chairman Mr Gorden Moyo and Mzilikazi Senator Matson Hlalo fighting running battles since Mr Moyo’s election as provincial chairman last year.