The Sunday News
Tinomuda Chakanyuka Sunday News Reporter
TROUBLED Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Professor Welshman Ncube has expelled two party members for defying the party’s decision to boycott the National Assembly by-elections set for 10 June, in a development analysts say points to the party’s inevitable demise. The expulsions come just a few months after the party was hit by a spate of resignations by top officials, among them secretary general Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, national chairperson Goodrich Chimbaira, his deputy Frank Chamunorwa and national spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube.
MDC spokesperson Mr Joshua Mhambi on Friday last week confirmed the expulsion of Mr Sibangilizwe Msipa and Mr Innocent Madziva, saying the two had expelled themselves from the party by opting to contest in the by-elections when the party had decided against contesting.
Mr Msipa and Mr Madziva were part of the 102 candidates who successfully filed their nomination papers on 16 April to contest in the 14 by-elections across the country.
Mr Madziva, who will be representing little known Transform Zimbabwe, is eyeing the Mbizo constituency where he is set to battle it out with Cde Vongai Mpereri of Zanu-PF, and an independent Mr Onismo Tafirei Zhavairo.
Mr Msipa will be contesting as an independent candidate where he will tussle with Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube (Zanu-PF), Mr Jonathan Ndlovu (Zapu), Mr Wilson Harry Peter (Mavambo Kusile Dawn) and two other independents Joan Dhlodhlo and Sehlelo Nkomo.
“MDC did not field any candidates for the by-elections for well documented reasons. According to our constitution, if a person chooses to contest an election representing another political party or as an independent candidate they cease being members of the party.
“These are sufficiently literate people, who have been following debate on elections, debate which did not start yesterday but started a long time ago. By any standards, they have basically expelled themselves, because the party’s constitution is clear on what happens if anyone takes the course followed by these people,” said Mr Mhambi.
Political analyst Dr Lawton Hikwa said the decision by some MDC members to openly defy the party’s hierarchy was a clear sign that there was no cohesion in the party, and the party could be headed for its demise.
“The fact that some party cadres have decided to go it alone shows that there is no harmony in the party’s resolution to boycott the elections. The party could be headed for another split. One can read that indeed there is trouble within the party and whether or not the party will stand the efficacy of Zanu-PF will be something time will tell,” he said.
Another analyst, Mr Enock Musara, backed Dr Hikwa’s remarks adding that by boycotting elections the two MDC formations had shown that they had long lost relevance in the country’s political equation.
Mr Musara said by defying party resolutions, the MDC members had shown that opposition politics in Zimbabwe was not people centred but a form of employment where players hope for rich pickings.
“This just shows that opposition politics in Zimbabwe is no longer about representing shared ideology but a form of employment. Why would one defy his party’s directive if in th first place they share the same ideology with other members of the party. It simply shows that opposition politics has been hijacked by fortune seekers who hope to make a dollar or two by being in politics.
“In actual fact the boycotting of elections by the two main opposition parties signals the death of opposition politics in Zimbabwe and shows that Zanu-PF is the only party that has been consistent in the game having stood the test of time,” he said.
The MDC spokesperson was however defiant and refused to be drawn into conceding that his party had reached its political waterloo, arguing that the resignations by and expulsion of a “few individuals” was not enough to suggest the death of a party.
“It’s absolute fallacy to believe that the party is dead or dying because of a few people who decided to resign from the party, just because some individuals decided to behave in a wayward manner and expel themselves from the party. Actually the party is stronger without them and we will continue soldiering on until we achieve our collective objective,” Mr Mhambi said.
At least 102 candidates successfully filed their nomination papers in different parts of the country to contest in 14 by-elections set for 10 June. The 14 seats fell vacant following the recall of 21 legislators by MDC-T with the Morgan Tsvangirai party already having reclaimed seven seats which it won through proportional representation during the 2013 harmonised election.
The MDC formations boycotted the by-elections against a background of successive defeats at the hands of Zanu-PF in parliamentary and local authority by-elections held since the 2013 harmonised elections.
