The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Senior Reporter
THE embattled MDC-Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa party is going ahead with preparations for the holding of by-elections after its Bulawayo Province held primary elections for the candidate who will represent the party in Ward 8.
There has been confusion over the status of the two parties after the Supreme Court confirmed Dr Thokozani Khupe as the leader of the MDC-T, while Mr Chamisa insisted that he was the leader of the MDC-Alliance.
However, the party’s Bulawayo province has further added to the confusion after the holding of primaries in Ward 8 to choose a candidate to stand in the Ward. The Ward fell vacant after the death of Councillor Ronnia Mudhara in July. Party sources revealed that the party’s provincial secretary for special needs, Mr Edwin Ndlovu won the primary elections beating four other potential candidates.
“MDC-Alliance held its primary elections for Ward 8 at Macdonald Hall, in Mzilikazi today (yesterday), where Mr Ndlovu won the poll with 150 votes ahead of Ms Lezina Mohammed who got 100 votes, Ms Thandekile Moyo; 66 votes and Mr Mqoqi Ncube got nine, they were six spoilt votes,” said the source.
Contacted for comment, Mr Ndlovu confirmed his victory saying that he was prepared to represent the ward if elected to be a councillor.
“Today, I believe the party won as a whole as it showed to all and sundry how united we are, what has to happen now is we have to start working to ensure that we retain the seat. Besides I have already started working as I have helped drill a borehole in the ward and I am also providing a bowser to areas in the ward that are not getting any water supplies to complement the council’s efforts,” said Mr Ndlovu.
The move by the Mr Chamisa-led faction of the MDC-Alliance will thus add confusion after the MDC-T recently declared that they will now be assuming the name MDC-Alliance as they were the legitimate owners of the name.
The Mr Chamisa-led party later dismissed the party’s name hijacking restating that it is the genuine MDC-Alliance party.
