adminMidlands Bureau Chief
INDEPENDENT candidate for Magwegwe Constituency, Mr Felix Mafa Sibanda has accused MDC-T leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and his lieutenants of hypocrisy after he allegedly gagged members from discussing the Gukurahundi issue in parliament but is quick to unpack the subject every election time.
Mr Sibanda, who is the outgoing MDC-T Member of the House of Assembly for Magwegwe, said he decided to stand as an independent candidate together with his other colleagues so as to bring “true democracy” to parliament.
He was speaking at the official launch of the Independent Candidates Coalition (ICC) on Tuesday in Gweru.
The coalition brought together former candidates who are independent
“Every time we wanted to discuss the Gukurahundi issue in parliament, we were silenced by our own party, MDC-T. Mr Tsvangirai would tell us not to table such a topic for discussion in parliament but the party is quick to use the Gukurahundi story during election time as means to win votes in Matabeleland. That is not democracy,” he said.
Mr Sibanda, who is the ICC spokesperson, said he together and his colleagues were going to stand as independent candidates because of the rot bedevilling MDC-T.
He said Mr Tsvangirai had lost control of MDC-T to power hungry individuals.
“Mr Tsvangirai is being misled. Certain individuals in MDC-T have grown too powerful and dangerous, stifling democracy. We have individuals who have personalised MDC-T and are positioning themselves for key positions in anticipation that Mr Tsvangirai will step down as party leader, probably by 2016. Some people are firing others from the MDC-T at rallies and in newspapers, yet we are the true MDC-T people. We were there when this party was formed in 1999 so we want due process to be followed.
If you, the media, help us get noticed out there, we will bring true democracy to parliament. We assure you that we will discuss anything and everything in parliament. We will help formulate policies that promote media space and allow you to operate with ease. That way you will get a lot of good stories as well,” said Mr Sibanda.
The ICC members came from various parts of the southern part of the country that included Bulawayo, Gweru, Vungu, Chiredzi, Kwekwe and Redcliff to select an interim steering committee to lead them into elections.
Redcliff businessman and independent candidate for the constituency, Mr Aaron Chinhara is the interim chairperson, Mr Prince Dube who is contesting the Entumbane/Emakhandeni, constituency is the secretary-general, former Gweru mayor, Mr Tedius Chimombe, who is eying the Gweru urban seat, is the organizing secretary, aspiring Ward Two councillor, Ms Holy Dzuda, is the treasurer and Mr Sibanda is the coalition spokesperson.
The independent candidates will be contesting in the national assembly and council elections.
Online Reporter