Chaos brewing in MDC-T over Bulawayo chairperson's post

CHAOS is brewing in the MDC-T following calls for nominations for candidates to fill the position of Bulawayo provincial chairperson ahead of the party's congress next month.

So far Bulawayo East legislator Thabitha Khumalo, Bulawayo provincial organising secretary Albert Mhlanga, a member of the provincial executive Tshepiso Mpofu and Senator Matson Hlalo have reportedly been nominated for the post.

Deputy Mayor Gift Banda has also reportedly been nominated in a move set to divide the already fractious party. Mhlanga is on record saying Banda does not qualify to contest the post.

Chaos is, however, brewing in the embattled party following reports that the party wanted to block Khumalo from contesting on the grounds that she was already a member of the national executive and cannot vie for a lower position.

Some members said the technicality is not included in the party's guideline for elections leading to speculation that Khumalo was being victimised.

Mhlanga yesterday confirmed that nominations to replace Gorden Moyo, who resigned from the party in June citing violence among others, had opened.

"It is true that the nominations have been opened. The party leadership announced it yesterday (Sunday). I'm in Harare now but I hear I have been nominated also but I want to make it clear that I won't be fighting for any position because I am aiming higher, I want to lead Africa one day," said Mhlanga.

"I won't stampede but will hear what the people will say at the end of the day because the reason I am still fighting alongside president Morgan Tsvangirai is that I am more concerned with growing the party and not fighting for positions."

On the Khumalo issue, Mhlanga was non-committal, only saying he had heard about it.

Khumalo was not reachable for comment.

The latest developments come after the chaotic restructuring of MDC-T Bulawayo wards and districts over the weekend ahead of the party's congress next month.

There were allegations of irregular conduct and bias levelled against deputy national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe in the restructuring exercise.

According to party insiders, Bhebhe clashed with Mpofu on Sunday after the deputy national organising secretary barred some youths from Bulawayo central from voting in the district congress.

Bhebhe was also accused of supporting a faction sympathetic to deputy president Thokozani Khupe in Makokoba and Banda to boost his chances of landing the provincial chairperson's post.

The MDC-T sources told Chronicle yesterday that some constituencies such as Emakhandeni and Entumbane had written letters of complaint on the conduct of the restructuring exercise said to be purging the anti-Banda faction.

Bhebhe yesterday declined to comment on the matter saying he does not entertain "rumours."

"They are mad. Who said that? I don't comment on nonsense. If anyone has any complaints they should not hide their identities. They should approach me when they have problems and tell me what exactly their issue is. If they hide their identities, it becomes gossip and I do not do gossip," he said.

But sources said Bhebhe's "meddling" in the affairs of the province when he was a national leader had raised eyebrows.

"The truth is that Bhebhe has vested interests in this matter. In Ward 8 of Makokoba for instance which has always been known for being Matson Hlalo's stronghold, Bhebhe set up parallel structures shunning those that had been selected at the last congress with intentions of sabotaging Hlalo," said an MDC-T official.

"On Sunday, he clashed with Mpofu after he barred some youths from Bulawayo central from taking part in elections. He left the venue in a huff after being confronted by Mpofu. In Bulawayo East, elections were abandoned because a faction linked to Banda boycotted the exercise exposing Bhebhe's bias."