News / Local
MDC-T supporters protest over factionalism
14 Jul 2012 at 18:38hrs | Views
MDC-T supporters in Makokoba on Friday demonstrated against worsening factionalism in the party's Bulawayo structures, which has resulted in a number of defections.
The infighting took a dramatic turn this week when the outspoken MDC-T MP for Bulawayo East, Tabitha Khumalo, was demoted from her role as deputy spokesperson for the party. Khumalo received a letter, signed by party President Morgan Tsvangirai, relieving her of her duties to speak on behalf of the party in a move described as an attempt to halt the factionalism.
Khumalo is believed to belong to a faction led by Matson Hlalo, a Senator representing Mzilikazi, which is involved in a bloody battle to wrestle control of the province from Gorden Moyo, the chairman. Moyo, with the support of the deputy President of the party Thokozani Khupe, beat Hlalo to the post of provincial chairman. But the fall-out between the two has torn the province into factions since the party held elections for its structures last year.
The tensions in the province have led to several defections, with most of the party cadres crossing the floor to the MDC formation led by Welshman Ncube.
SW Radio Africa's Bulawayo correspondent Lionel Saungweme reported that the protesting group of Makokoba residents on Friday were demonstrating their concern about the defections. He said they were voicing support for the party's Vice President Khupe, and were "empathically supporting the party as a whole."
"The demonstration culminated in a meeting where a petition was handed to the MDC-T Bulawayo Chairman Gorden Moyo. But Moyo refused to open the petition, which was sealed in an envelope, saying their actions were against the MDC-T's constitution," Saungweme reported.
Moyo apparently urged the protesters to let the party officials deal with the situation and not turn to such demonstrations to air their grievances.
The infighting took a dramatic turn this week when the outspoken MDC-T MP for Bulawayo East, Tabitha Khumalo, was demoted from her role as deputy spokesperson for the party. Khumalo received a letter, signed by party President Morgan Tsvangirai, relieving her of her duties to speak on behalf of the party in a move described as an attempt to halt the factionalism.
Khumalo is believed to belong to a faction led by Matson Hlalo, a Senator representing Mzilikazi, which is involved in a bloody battle to wrestle control of the province from Gorden Moyo, the chairman. Moyo, with the support of the deputy President of the party Thokozani Khupe, beat Hlalo to the post of provincial chairman. But the fall-out between the two has torn the province into factions since the party held elections for its structures last year.
The tensions in the province have led to several defections, with most of the party cadres crossing the floor to the MDC formation led by Welshman Ncube.
SW Radio Africa's Bulawayo correspondent Lionel Saungweme reported that the protesting group of Makokoba residents on Friday were demonstrating their concern about the defections. He said they were voicing support for the party's Vice President Khupe, and were "empathically supporting the party as a whole."
"The demonstration culminated in a meeting where a petition was handed to the MDC-T Bulawayo Chairman Gorden Moyo. But Moyo refused to open the petition, which was sealed in an envelope, saying their actions were against the MDC-T's constitution," Saungweme reported.
Moyo apparently urged the protesters to let the party officials deal with the situation and not turn to such demonstrations to air their grievances.
Source - swradio
