The Sunday News
Nduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor
A fresh factional storm is brewing within the MDC-T with reports that party national organising secretary Mr Abednico Bhebhe told a meeting last Saturday that three Members of Parliament from a rival faction will be blocked from contesting in the 2018 elections.
Mr Bhebhe, said to be an ally of party vice-president Ms Thokozani Khupe, reportedly told a caucus at the former Deputy Prime Minister’s house in Bulawayo, that they were targeting legislators aligned to the “Cobra” faction believed to be led by Mr Nelson Chamisa also an MDC-T vice-president.
The caucus was held after a National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) youth rally in the city last Saturday.
The MPs, according to sources, include Bulawayo East legislator Ms Thabitha Khumalo, Bulawayo Central legislator Ms Dorcas Sibanda and Magwegwe representative Mr Anele Ndebele.
The Nkayi South Member of Parliament also reportedly said Bulawayo Province would field candidates in all constituencies in a move, insiders said, works against ongoing negotiations for an opposition coalition ahead of next year’s elections.
According to insiders, the MDC-T would make way for Dr Joice Mujuru’s National People’s Party and the Professor Welshman Ncube led MDC in some constituencies in Bulawayo as part of their negotiated electoral pact.
The issue has reportedly become a hotly debated one within the MDC-T WhatsApp chat groups with members aligned to the two rival factions trading insults.
A People’s Democratic Party official Mr Fortune Mlalazi has also reportedly posted the same matter on his social media accounts.
Contacted yesterday, Mr Bhebhe blamed Mr Mlalazi whom he labelled a fool, for spreading what he termed “falsehoods.”
“On the day in question, I wasn’t even in Bulawayo. I was in Hwange attending to party business. I understand it is that fool
Fortune Mlalazi spreading these falsehoods, he is not even a member of our party,” he said.
Mr Ndebele said he had heard about the issue on Friday morning and confronted Mr Bhebhe who denied the allegations.
“I sent Bhebhe a message on WhatsApp asking him about the matter and he distanced himself from everything.
“However, what I want to make clear is that it is the people of Magwegwe who will vote for their MP and not anyone else.
“We have procedures in the party and the constitution also guides us in as far as laying a framework for electing representatives.
“Some of us do not seek to form an alliance with anyone or bootlick anyone to qualify for office but will work with the people.”
Ms Khumalo declined to comment saying, “I think it is better to contact the people implicated on the matter, I do not know anything.”
Ms Sibanda on the other hand said, “I doubt if that is true because the members mentioned in this issue are senior in the party and know that we are guided by procedures and a constitution. Representatives are elected through primary elections and not other means so I doubt the matter is true because the people you mention know better.”
