MDC-T supporters in turmoil

Senior Reporter
FRESH turbulence has rocked MDC-T in Bulawayo, where scores of supporters yesterday besieged the provincial headquarters to protest against the leadership. The party’s supporters gathered outside the offices between 4th Avenue and Fort Street to object to leaders in the province for allegedly unilaterally selecting Senators to represent the party in the harmonised elections.
Officials in the party alleged that leaders in the province had selected Ms Nicky Brown, a person called Carter and Nomvula Mguni, all from the same neighbourhood in Bulawayo Central, to stop them from making noise about heavy rigging in the constituency’s National Assembly primaries.

“The party set down rules for the selection of Senators. A provincial council was supposed to be set up to select names from a list of party members who had expressed a wish to represent the MDC-T in the Senatorial race. However, we were shocked to learn the leaders have already compiled the list, without consulting anyone,” said a fuming party member.

“They have selected these three, to stop them from producing evidence that there was rigging that resulted in Dorcas Sibanda winning. Today we want to teach them a lesson. They should respect us,” said another official.

However, someone allegedly tipped off Mr Moyo that party members had planned to demonstrate.
Mr Moyo arrived in a conciliatory mood and promised the issue would be looked into.

He appealed to supporters, saying he knew some had brought placards for the demonstration to let the party leaders meet and resolve the issue.
The party members chanted that they did not want the primary election re-run in Emakhandeni constituency, which was scheduled for yesterday, to take place.

They said it was a violation of the party’s constitution as members had voted peacefully, thereby ensuring there were no grounds for a re-run. They said they did not want Councillor Prince Dube who won the election to be removed.

However, in a move likely to spark more protests, the party appeased the supporters by calling off the re-election, but later after protestors had left, annulled the result and endorsed Mr Dingilizwe Tshuma as the party’s candidate.

Contacted for comment, the party’s provincial organising secretary for Bulawayo, Mr Albert Mhlanga confirmed the developments.
“Yes, we have made our decisions. Nicky Brown submitted her papers and was accepted. If she has any evidence about anything, we would have been aware of it and we would have acted,” said Mr Mhlanga.

He said the party did not fear a backlash on the decision to disqualify Clr Dube.
“We cannot be stopped by individuals as leaders we have made a decision that is in the best interests of the party. Anyone who makes noise about that and disturbs the peace shall be arrested. It would no longer be a party issue,” said Mr Mhlanga.

Clr Dube polled 81 votes in the primaries. He was followed by Mr Tshuma with 78, Rev Useni Sibanda got 65 votes, 38 people voted for Mr Marko Phiri, 25 for a Mr Khumalo while Ms Sanelisiwe Sibanda got 14 and Mrs Fidelia Dube the wife of the late Cornelius Dube polled nine votes and Mr Victor Chinembiri five.

The MDC-T primaries have been riddled with factionalism, allegations of rigging and racism.