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OFFICIALS from the beleaguered opposition MDC-T’s Bulawayo province are reportedly in trouble with the party’s national executive, amid revelations that they are openly campaigning for independent candidates for the upcoming by-elections.
Party officials are reportedly being funded through a fund emanating from Zimbabweans staying in South Africa, termed the Save Bulawayo Fund.
The move is against the party’s resolution to boycott the 30 June by-elections and comes at a time when the province is in the spotlight after they tried in vain to force the party to contest in the by-elections.
Contacted for comment, the Bulawayo acting chairperson, Ms Dorcas Sibanda, said she was aware that there were some members who were campaigning for independent candidates in the province but referred all questions to the party’s national spokesperson, Mr Obert Gutu.
“I am fully aware of what is happening but I would rather you contact Mr Gutu so that he gives you the party position,” said Ms Sibanda.
Mr Gutu, however, denied the allegations claiming that as far as they were concerned, they were not participating in any election and were instead encouraging their supporters with an urge to participate in the elections to go and record a spoilt ballot instead.
“We have been clear about our no reforms — no elections stance therefore I doubt if there is any one of our members who could be said to be campaigning for any of these independent candidates.
“It clearly does not make any sense for someone to be campaigning for someone who is not a member of their party, if there is anyone doing that we will surely deal with them accordingly,” said Mr Gutu.
According to impeccable party sources, the province had now opted to campaign for independent candidates and were instructing their structures to vote for the independent candidates who they claimed would join the party as soon as they were elected into office.
“There is confusion within the structures because while the national leadership told us that we are not participating in these elections we now have these people coming to tell us to vote for some independent candidate, they are actually saying that these people are there representing the party.
“It becomes confusing to us because it now seems our province is now pulling in opposite directions with the national leadership, we are now becoming more of a rebel province than a part of the party which won’t end well for us,” said the source.
The source also revealed that the Save Bulawayo Fund was established mainly as a way of preventing Zanu-PF winning any seats in Bulawayo.
“It is the reason why the province was so much against boycotting the by-elections, now that the party decided to boycott the elections they then saw that the only way around things would be the party campaigning for independent candidates,” said the source.
The province has for the past couple of months been under the spotlight with party members demonstrating against the party’s deputy president, Ms Thokozani Khupe and the provincial leaders accusing them of being sellouts. Ms Khupe was reportedly reduced to tears after these protests.
Online Reporter