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upholding a decision to have a primary election re-run in Emakhandeni constituency.
Party supporters held a demonstration on Sunday at Emakhandeni Hall, denouncing MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Ms Thokozani Khupe for sending a team to announce the re-run in the constituency. Councillor Prince Dube of Ward 10 won the right to represent the party in the National Assembly elections, beating seven other candidates last month.
When news filtered through yesterday that the re-run would be held tomorrow, party members vowed to block the election.
“Our leaders have chosen to turn a deaf ear on the emphatic statement that we made on Sunday. As far as we know, there was no appeal that was filed against the manner in which the election was held. We believe the party wants to impose Reverend Useni Sibanda. We shall block the election,” said an MDC-T member.
An official in the party said a number of the party’s supporters had said they would boycott the re-run.
“We are told leaders of the province told the elections directorate in Harare on Wednesday that a majority of people in the province supported the re-run. We are told they said the Chronicle story about the demonstration was false. A section of members have indicated that they will not turn up to vote in the re-run. They say they made their choice and if the party wanted to change it, it could go ahead without their involvement,” said the official.
A number of party members alleged that factionalism was behind the decision. The factions are led by Senator Matson Hlalo of Mzilikazi and DPM Khupe, who works with provincial chairperson Mr Gorden Moyo.
“The Gorden Moyo faction has official influence so they are manipulating results to ensure that they have more of their people in leadership positions.
“Clr Dube, who does not belong to either faction, is just a victim of the power struggles,” said a member of the party.
A candidates list that was finalised by the MDC-T election directorate on Wednesday shows the Gorden Moyo faction having the upper hand as it has six candidates against Senator Hlalo’s three.
Out of the 12 constituencies in the city, two candidates have not been aligned to either faction.
The list shows that, Mr Moyo would stand in Makokoba, Mr Reggie Moyo in Luveve, Mr Albert Mhlanga in Pumula, while Bulawayo Central would be represented by Ms Dorcas Sibanda, Mr Anele Ndebele would run in Magwegwe, and Mr Bekithemba Nyathi in Mpopoma.
The six candidates are linked to the Moyo faction.
Winning candidates aligned to the Hlalo faction are Mr Thamsanqa Mahlangu who won in Nkulumane, Ms Thabitha Khumalo in Bulawayo East and Mr Eddie Cross in Bulawayo South. The two neutrals are Dr Sipepa Nkomo who would run in Lobengula and Mr Phelela Masuku in Nketa.
Contacted for comment on the re-run, MDC-T national spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said party members who demonstrate risked having the candidate they support disqualified.
“There was an appeal and the electoral directorate looked at it and found merit in it. A re-run has been ordered in Emakhandeni and is set for Saturday,” said Mr Mwonzora.
He declined to name the person who made the appeal.
Online Reporter