Mayor falls out of favour with MDC-T

THE MDC-T Bulawayo provincial leadership led by chairperson Mr Gorden Moyo is reportedly on a mission to remove Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Thaba Moyo and replace him with city lawyer, Mr Kucaca Phulu in harmonised elections expected to be held on 29 June.

Sources said Mr Moyo and his executive had  vowed that Clr Moyo would not stand on the party's ticket in the city, which together with Harare would have executive mayors under the new constitution.

Mr Moyo and his allies feel Clr Moyo's "lack of education and blunders that have been documented in the Press," are an embarrassment to the MDC-T.

Party insiders yesterday said Mr Moyo was sponsoring candidates, some who have not been officially in the party's structures, to remove other councillors as he sets to build a clique of "yes men".

They said the scheme was likely to further weaken the party and intensify factionalism that is already wreaking havoc in Bulawayo.

Mr Moyo, who is the party's vice-president, Ms Thokozani Khupe's factional ally, submitted his name to stand for Makokoba constituency which was duly accepted by the party's national council that met on Wednesday.

He has been in a tussle to control the province with Mzilikazi Senator Mr Matson Hlalo.

The turf battle degenerated into fist fights between the camps ahead of the party's congress in 2010.

Sources in the party said Ms Khupe abandoned her constituency and moved to Nkayi North constituency but received stiff resistance from party officials in the area.

According to the MDC-T's approved list of candidates for the primary elections, Clr Moyo and Mr Phulu would lock horns.

Contacted for comment, Clr Moyo expressed ignorance about the developments, saying he did not have the information.

"I do not have that information. All I know is that I am a devoted party cadre and what counts is that there should be a candidate that represents the party. It is not the party that votes for candidates, but the people," said Clr Moyo.

Mr Phulu confirmed that he submitted his name for the candidature as Mayor of Bulawayo but dismissed reports that he was being used.

"This is an interesting allegation. I applied and did the expected work and I do not know whether I have been endorsed or not. I am not aware that I am being used," said Mr Phulu.

Some of the individuals who have allegedly been imposed in different constituencies include former journalist, Reverend Useni Sibanda in Emakhandeni, Dr Mandla Nyathi, who will fight it out with the party's former deputy spokesperson, Ms Thabitha Khumalo in Bulawayo East and Mr Promise Mkhwananzi as well as Mr Anele Ndebele who have been lined up to challenge Magwegwe legislator Mr Felix Mafa.

They join a list of candidates that have not been active in the party structures such as former Radio 2 disc jockeys, Eric Knight and Ezra "Tshisa" Sibanda and former editor of the Daily News, Geoff Nyarota, who have suddenly been given the nod to contest ahead of seasoned party cadres.

Knight is eyeing the Mbare seat while Sibanda is angling for the Vungu seat in Lower Gweru. Nyarota intends to stand in Makoni South in Manicaland province.

More than 1 200 candidates submitted their names for consideration to represent the party in the forthcoming elections.

Some 200 prospective candidates were disqualified.