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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
MDC-T is facing stiff competition from its own supporters in Bulilima East constituency who have defied their leader’s directive and are busy campaigning for an independent candidate, Mr Solani Moyo. They are protesting against the imposition of former legislator for the area, Mr Norman Mpofu.
In separate interviews yesterday, MDC-T supporters said they were not happy that Mr Mpofu got the nod ahead of Mr Moyo, who all along was the party’s provincial organising secretary for Matabeleland South.
“We are the ones who advised Mr Moyo to contest as an independent candidate for the National Assembly seat after our plea for primaries to be held was turned down. He has the full backing of ordinary party members as well as structures within the constituency and the whole district of Bulilima,” said a party member.
The member said party supporters had made it clear that they would not accept Mr Mpofu as their MP because he is a “foreigner” in the district.
“Mr Tsvangirai (Morgan) made an attempt to shift the mindset of people by advising them to accept Mr Mpofu as the party’s representative but the truth of the matter is that the majority of people are against that.
“Mr Moyo is a product of Bulilima district and we cannot allow an outsider to come in and lead the people. Mr Mpofu is not originally from Bulilima and if ever he wishes to lead, he must attempt to do so in his home area in Mangwe,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Mr Moyo who was in Chiredzi said he was confident of defeating Mr Mpofu.
“I am in Chiredzi but I am not in a hurry to campaign because I have the full backing of party leaders within the constituency who doing all the ground work. I filed as an independent candidate as per the people’s request hence the support I am enjoying,” he said.
Mr Moyo bragged that Mr Mpofu only had support in five wards out of 17.
“I have 100 percent support from the leadership structures in the rural wards. There are some candidates for the post of councillors who filed as independents who are backing me while there are some who used the party ticket to be selected as representatives but have shown loyalty to me.
“I have the backing of party’s district chairperson, Mr Vincent Moyo, the youth chair, Mr Trymore Mpofu, the women assembly vice chairperson and branch executive members in all rural wards,” said Mr Moyo.
He blamed the party’s vice-president Ms Thokozani Khupe of destroying the party by imposing candidates against the will of the people.
Mr Moyo said he was still the organising secretary for the province because he had not been fired.
“I sit in the national council and we agreed that we would go through primaries together with Mr Mpofu. I was later shocked when I was told that Mr Mpofu would represent the party. I largely blame Ms Khupe for that and I am informed she is launching a campaign for Mr Mpofu,” said Mr Moyo.
In his recent visit to the constituency, the MDC-T leader Mr Tsvangirai advised party members to accept Mr Mpofu as the party’s representative for the constituency.
He said he owed the rebels who crossed floor from MDC for their effort in voting for Mr Lovemore Moyo to be Speaker of Parliament after the 2008 elections.
The heat in the MDC-T compounded by imposition of candidates saw a total of 38 members defecting to Zanu-PF in Bulilima East recently.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo