The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Sunday News Reporter
CRISIS ridden opposition party MDC-T Bulawayo Province will today hold a crisis meeting at their provincial offices where they aim to iron out a number of problems that threaten to destroy the party.
Among the problems reportedly set for discussion are the recent appointments of two deputy presidents by party president, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, a push within the province’s ranks to Dr Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First party and reported moves by some provincial members to impose candidates for the 2018 elections.
Confirming the meeting, MDC-T Bulawayo provincial spokesperson, Mr Mandla Sibanda said the meeting would be held but revealed that this would be an ordinary meeting meant to plan the future of the party in the province.
“Yes, we will be holding a provincial executive meeting but it is just an ordinary executive meeting where we will be discussing a number of issues pertaining the party in the province, this can include problems or not, as long it has to do with furthering the aspirations of the party. As far as I am concerned it is just an ordinary meeting,” said Mr Sibanda.
However, well placed party sources revealed that the meeting was called by the provincial chairperson, Bulawayo Deputy Mayor, Councillor Gift Banda amid allegations that he was struggling to contain the province ahead of the province hosting the party’s anniversary celebrations.
“We have been summoned to the party offices on Sunday (today) to try and address a number of problems which the province is facing. We understand the leadership wants us to iron out these problems so that when the national leadership comes we speak with one voice.
“However, already a certain faction aligned to the MDC Veterans Activists Association (VAA), which is opposed to Clr Banda and Ms Thokozani Khupe have vowed to disrupt this crunch meeting. They are already calling on party members to boycott the meeting,” said the source.
On the imposition of candidates for the 2018 elections, the source claimed that some provincial executive members were pushing for the strategic handpicking of candidates that would range from established businesspeople to technocrats, a move that was being resisted within the party ranks.
“The VAA grouping is claiming there is a move to impose candidates, a move that has already set people talking with most threatening to resign when such happens. It is alleged the provincial leadership has identified mainly South African based businesspeople and technocrats to participate in the elections, a move that is deemed unfair. As if that is not enough some standing MPs and councillors are going around telling their constituencies that they won’t be any primaries as they have already been declared party candidates for 2018,” said the source.
Mr Tsvangirai has for the past couple of months been faced with the difficult task of justifying the appointment of Mr Nelson Chamisa and Engineer Elias Mudzuri as deputy presidents adding to Ms Khupe, bringing to three officials occupying the portfolio.
Bulawayo Province has been the hardest hit in terms of infighting amid reports that there was already a grouping- aligned to Ms Khupe- that was pushing for the party to join ranks with the Dr Mujuru led ZimPF.
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