adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
MDC-T Matabeleland South Province is in a quandary over who to recognise as the official party candidate for Insiza South National Assembly Constituency after two people successfully filed their nomination papers as the party candidates. The Nomination Court announced that the party had two parliamentary candidates, Mr Ntandokayiphikiswa Ndlela and Mr Nkululeko Sibanda who are contesting Cde Malaki Nkomo of Zanu-PF and Mr Siyabonga Malandu Ncube of MDC.
However, in an interview on Wednesday, MDC-T Matabeleland South provincial spokesperson Mr Mthokozisi Bhebhe said the province recognised Mr Sibanda as the party candidate.
“Nkululeko Sibanda is our party candidate,” he said.
Mr Bhebhe said the party did not recognise Mr Ndlela’s candidature as there were suspicions that the signatures on his submitted Nomination Court papers were forged.
“Investigations are underway and we are yet to establish if the signatures were really genuine as there is a possibility of fraudulent acquisition of the required signatures,” he said.
MDC-T’s failure to re-run its parliamentary primary elections in Insiza South Constituency following the sudden death of Mr Jabulani “Mahewu” Dube who had won the primary elections, has been blamed for the confusion.
Mr Sibanda came second after the late Mr Dube hence he won the right to represent the party after it failed to conduct fresh primaries.
Mr Ndlela is claiming the right to represent the party on the basis of his reported popularity in the constituency and is believed to be the blue eyed boy of the party’s provincial chairman Mr Watchy Sibanda.
There are also unconfirmed reports that Mr Ndlela has no support of the party’s national chairman, Mr Lovemore Moyo.
Another MDC-T party member, Mr Dumezweni Dube, a brother to the late Mr Dube (Mahewu) is contesting the harmonised elections as an independent.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo