adminSenior Reporter
A GROUP of squatters from Richmond dumpsite, popularly known as Ngozi Mine are bitter that some MDC-T officials in Bulawayo have failed to pay them money they allegedly promised them to vote in primary elections. The squatters on Monday alleged that they were promised $350 by Ms Dorcas Sibanda, the party’s candidate for Bulawayo Central so that they could be illegally added to the party’s electoral college and vote for her.
Sources within the party alleged that on the eve of the vote, senior MDC-T officials (names withheld) spent the night altering the voters’ list to include the squatters and some people who were allegedly bussed in on the day of the primaries.
Ms Sibanda went on to trounce her rival Ms Jane Nicola Watson, aka Nicky Brown, to win the right to represent the party in the harmonised elections on 31 July.
The angry squatters sent a message to the aspiring MDC-T councillor for ward 2, Ms Sithabile Mataka, to forward to outgoing Deputy Mayor, Mr Amen Mpofu.
“Amen akusitshelele uDorcas asinike imali yethu owasithembisa yona esibhala ukuthi simvotele, thina asibo bantu be party yenu, angayekela ukusinika siyatshisa amawofisi enu,” read the message.
Party members alleged the sms had been forwarded to senior officials, including MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.
“We did not have Amen’s number that is why we sent the message to someone else. We are serious about our money,” said a squatter.
The squatter alleged that three kombis were used to transport him and his colleagues to the venue where the primaries were held.
“There were also some people who were given money, from Ntabazinduna and Esigodini and Queens Park,” said the squatter.
Commenting on the issue, an MDC-T official said the story was true.
“A group of people believed to be squatters invaded the provincial office in Bulawayo on the day that local authority primary elections were held. They demanded money that they said they were owed by Dorcas, for voting in the primaries the previous week,” said the official.
He said they assaulted a security guard called Mr Alex Moyo when he tried to stop them from entering the offices.
“They also threatened to beat up Mr David Shambari who was one of the people in charge of the elections. They said if they did not get their money, they would burn down the offices. They only left after additional security was arranged,” said the official.
Another official said it was being “whispered” within MDC-T that Ms Watson had produced evidence of rigging, which had compelled the party’s deputy president, Ms Thokozani Khupe to include her in the Senators’ list.
“We were surprised that Nicky Brown was suddenly nominated for the Senate. We were told that she accepted the offer on condition that her friends, Nomvula Mguni and Michael Carter were also made Senators. There are a lot of irregularities in the party,” said the official.
Contacted for comment, Ms Sibanda challenged the squatters to personally approach her for their money.
“I have also heard the squatter story. I dismissed it as rubbish. If I promised them money, they should come and get it. In our party of excellence, there is no rigging. I think this commotion has been caused by people who are bitter that I won,” said Ms Sibanda.
The party’s Bulawayo provincial spokesperson, Mr Mandla Sibanda, hung up the phone when this reporter identified himself.
Ms Sibanda will face Mr Mlungisi Moyo of Zanu-PF, Ms Sibongile Maphosa of MDC, Maidza Chapwanya of MKD Ms Linda Dube of AKE, Mr Angirayi Selwin Kwembeya of United Movement for One Cause and Mr Clemency Sibanda of Zapu.
The MDC-T primary elections in Bulawayo have been fraught with allegations of rigging and imposition of candidates.
The primaries have caused deep seated divisions that have resulted in five aspiring MPs and two councillors forsaking the party to contest as independent candidates.
They have also triggered defections, with 43 party members in Makokoba joining Zanu-PF on Monday.
Online Reporter