News / Local
A war is looming in MDC-T Bulawayo province
12 Feb 2015 at 00:24hrs | Views
A war is looming in MDC-T Bulawayo province after the party's national organising secretary Abednicho Bhebhe last weekend "smuggled" Deputy Mayor Gift Banda into the structures in what members say is in violation of the constitution.
Bhebhe reportedly told a party meeting in the city last weekend that Banda who recently stepped down from the provincial chairperson's post was now an ex-officio member to the structure.
Members who accused Bhebhe of protecting Banda as they both are aligned to a faction led by MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe, insist that the position is not provided for in the party's constitution.
Banda was forced to step down from the position of provincial chairperson following the party's unsuccessful bid to reverse a High Court judgment at the Supreme Court nullifying his election last year and declaring his rival Matson Hlalo as the bonafide chairperson.
This was after Bulawayo Judge, Justice Martin Makonese issued a default judgment in Hlalo's favour following an application for review of the outcome of the Bulawayo provincial congress last October and in the process disqualifying the Bulawayo deputy mayor's candidacy for the provincial chair's post.
The Supreme Court said the application filed on November 10 last year, did not comply with rule 15 (8a) for the inspection of the record within the time specified in terms of the Supreme Court rules, 1964.
It noted that in terms of sub rule 15(8b), the appeal was deemed to have been abandoned.
Hlalo who was duly declared a winner of the elections was suspended by the party pending a disciplinary hearing for alleged act of violence following the default judgement.
Party insiders yesterday said Bhebhe announced at the weekend that Bulawayo Central legislator Dorcas Sibanda who deputised Banda had been appointed acting provincial chairperson but faced resistance.
"Bhebhe announced at a party meeting in Bulawayo last weekend that Sibanda was now the acting provincial chairperson. The people were opposed to Sibanda's appointment and it was agreed that there would be another meeting probably this weekend to nominate an optional acting chairperson.
"He further announced that Banda was now a provincial ex officio member which many feel is illegal as it is not provided for in the constitution," said an MDC-T insider.
"After the case was thrown out at the Supreme Court, Bhebhe should not be involved in any matters of the provincial executive. What Bhebhe is doing is against the constitution. He is doing it to promote factionalism.
"He wants Banda's continued involvement in the party's provincial affairs."
Bhebhe yesterday asked us to contact him after an hour for comment but repeated efforts to get hold of him later were not successful as his mobile phone rang without being answered.
MDC-T national spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday said he did not have any information on the matter.
"I will have to get a report from Bhebhe first because I wasn't there at the meeting you refer to," he said.
Bhebhe reportedly told a party meeting in the city last weekend that Banda who recently stepped down from the provincial chairperson's post was now an ex-officio member to the structure.
Members who accused Bhebhe of protecting Banda as they both are aligned to a faction led by MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe, insist that the position is not provided for in the party's constitution.
Banda was forced to step down from the position of provincial chairperson following the party's unsuccessful bid to reverse a High Court judgment at the Supreme Court nullifying his election last year and declaring his rival Matson Hlalo as the bonafide chairperson.
This was after Bulawayo Judge, Justice Martin Makonese issued a default judgment in Hlalo's favour following an application for review of the outcome of the Bulawayo provincial congress last October and in the process disqualifying the Bulawayo deputy mayor's candidacy for the provincial chair's post.
The Supreme Court said the application filed on November 10 last year, did not comply with rule 15 (8a) for the inspection of the record within the time specified in terms of the Supreme Court rules, 1964.
It noted that in terms of sub rule 15(8b), the appeal was deemed to have been abandoned.
Hlalo who was duly declared a winner of the elections was suspended by the party pending a disciplinary hearing for alleged act of violence following the default judgement.
"Bhebhe announced at a party meeting in Bulawayo last weekend that Sibanda was now the acting provincial chairperson. The people were opposed to Sibanda's appointment and it was agreed that there would be another meeting probably this weekend to nominate an optional acting chairperson.
"He further announced that Banda was now a provincial ex officio member which many feel is illegal as it is not provided for in the constitution," said an MDC-T insider.
"After the case was thrown out at the Supreme Court, Bhebhe should not be involved in any matters of the provincial executive. What Bhebhe is doing is against the constitution. He is doing it to promote factionalism.
"He wants Banda's continued involvement in the party's provincial affairs."
Bhebhe yesterday asked us to contact him after an hour for comment but repeated efforts to get hold of him later were not successful as his mobile phone rang without being answered.
MDC-T national spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday said he did not have any information on the matter.
"I will have to get a report from Bhebhe first because I wasn't there at the meeting you refer to," he said.
Source - chronicle
