adminPamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
THE outgoing Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Mr Amen Mpofu was reportedly tricked by MDC-T senior officials into believing that he will be included on the party’s Senate list, only to discover that he had been dumped. Party sources told Chronicle that Mr Mpofu was promised by senior party officials that he would stand as one of the senators in Bulawayo in the harmonised elections.
They said he gladly accepted the offer and started campaigning but was shocked when he saw the nomination list last week and realised that he had been dumped.
“There is no respect in MDC-T. It is unfortunate that the people who are supposed to be teaching party members how to respect others regardless of their positions, are the ones that are promoting infighting through imposing candidates,” said a party official.
“Mr Mpofu is one of many members who were let down by the party. He was told that he would be included in the Senatorial list and he relaxed. He later found out that he had been tricked when it was too late for him to submit his papers.”
The party member castigated party leaders for “promoting” their friends.
“There is too much imposition in the party. A number of party members decided to file their papers as independent candidates because they were not wanted by some people, yet the grassroots wanted them to be their leaders.
“It is unfortunate that our leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, is not doing anything to stop this rot, which is seriously affecting the party and will reduce its chances of winning elections.”
Contacted for comment yesterday, Mr Mpofu dismissed the reports that he had been promised to be included in the party’s Senatorial list although he would welcome a senior position in the party.
“I never wanted to contest and I did not ask for anything from anyone but I am ready to accept whatever position I am given except to be a councillor because I would be diminishing myself.
“The truth is that I am different from others who are hungry and desperately looking for jobs in the party. I have a thriving business and I am not worried about getting positions in the party.
“I will, however, continue supporting the party and if ever there is a position for me, they will inform me but I will never be a cry baby,” said Mr Mpofu.
The party’s Bulawayo spokesperson, Mr Mandla Sibanda, said the Senators’ list was selected by a standing committee and Mr Mpofu was not the only one who was left out.
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