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Nduduzo Tshuma Senior Political Reporter
MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai has been sucked into the party’s Bulawayo factional wars with members accusing him of rigging on behalf of deputy mayor, Councillor Gift Banda who was controversially voted provincial chairperson in the inconclusive congress on Saturday. Tsvangirai and the entire MDC-T leadership were in the city at the weekend to oversee the chaotic elections and failed to rein in rowdy youths who turned violent.
Party insiders said a senior party member in his 80s from Entumbane only identified as Phephetha was stripped naked by rampaging party youths.
Party deputy organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe said only Banda’s position and two others were voted for while others would be filled on a date to be announced.
“Gift Banda was voted chairperson while Nomvula Mguni was voted secretary deputised by Sibusisiwe Dinnah Adams,” he said.
“The other positions were not filled because we completed the polls late. A date will be set to fill other positions. We are in Lupane now for the Matabeleland North provincial congress.”
Party sources yesterday said Tsvangirai became the main actor in the chaos that marred the provincial congress with some frustrated provincial members today expected to announce their defection to the MDC Renewal Team.
Tsvangirai, sources said, who ended up personally accrediting delegates to the congress following clashes between rival factions allegedly led by MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe and Matson Hlalo shut out the latter’s faction with some districts being barred from voting.
Party provincial organising secretary Albert Mhlanga, along with deputy provincial chairperson Dorcas Sibanda, were “confirmed” to have retained their posts.
Mhlanga was reportedly manhandled by youths aligned to Khupe before he was rescued by Tsvangirai’s security team.
“Where have you ever seen a leader of a party organising district structures for a provincial congress? Would you ever see President Mugabe doing that in Zanu-PF? It shows that Tsvangirai is not a democrat because on Saturday, he became part of the rigging machinery, actually he was the chief rigger,” said a party insider.
“Tsvangirai barred some members of Lobengula and Luveve districts from voting. He left the venue at 12 midnight after Banda was controversially voted provincial chairperson. Only 12 people from Magwegwe district voted to confirm Mhlanga while the rest were turned away. The whole process was marred by chaos with Tsvangirai taking centre stage.”
Party sources dismissed Saturday’s provincial congress as a farce setting the stage for what they said was “an infinitely more farcical national congress” this month.
“Some members have started communicating with the Renewal Team expressing interest to cross over to that grouping.
“They feel that Tsvangirai has failed to show the democratic side that he purports to be championing after he allowed himself to be swayed to favour one faction over the other,” said a source.
“Tomorrow (today) some members will announce their departure from the party and cross over to the MDC Renewal Team. After the chaotic congress, they decided they no longer want to be associated with the party.”
The sources said Tsvangirai did not condemn rowdy party youths as they manhandled party members.
“Mhlanga was hoisted in the air by Khupe’s youths in front of the entire presidium and national standing committee.
“The youths were singing the protest song ‘Int’ oyenzayo, siyayizonda’ (we don’t like what you are doing) as they threw him into the air. It took Tsvangirai’s security team to rescue Mhlanga. Phephetha was also stripped naked in front of the leadership and they never raised a finger,” the source said.
At the time of going to Press last night, the Matabeleland North structures were still holding the congress. The party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora’s phone initially rang without being answered and was later unreachable.
Online Reporter