Bribery not a new phenomenon at MDC-T says Sipepa Nkomo

BRIBERY is rampant within the rank and file of the opposition MDC-T party and in the run-up to the party's congress in Bulawayo in 2011, party officials openly splashed money to secure positions, a senior official has sensationally revealed.

Last week MDC-T councillors from Mutare, Victoria Falls, Redcliff and Kwekwe shocked the party leadership when they voted for Zanu-PF candidates for the mayoral and deputy mayoral positions.
The party reacted by alleging that their councillors were bribed and further threatened to "recall" these councillors.

Addressing journalists at the Bulawayo Press club last Thursday, former Water Resources Management and Development Minister, who is also a member of the party's council of elders, Dr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, said he was not surprised that some of the party's councillors had been allegedly induced to vote for Zanu-PF mayors saying they were gullible and easily lured by money.

"As a party we are obviously disappointed because how do you explain a scenario where someone from MDC-T votes for a Zanu-PF mayor, it really does not make any sense. Besides I am not surprised. This is not the first time this has happened . . . even during our party congresses people pay a lot of money to get key positions," said Dr Sipepa Nkomo.

He said as a party they were not going to leave any stone unturned and would descend on all those that went against the party.

"For someone to sit in a caucus, engage the party, a decision is made then they decide to totally ignore this and instead vote otherwise; this is a clear violation of party rules and is mischievous on their part.

"The party will certainly deal with these members as they decided themselves to go astray, we have our internal processes and they will give us the best possible way forward," said the former Cabinet minister.

Dr Sipepa Nkomo said as a party they had done their best to ensure that the best possible mayoral candidates were elected thus it was mind-boggling that the councillors decided to ignore the party directive.

"Here in Bulawayo we had the problem of Dr Mandla Nyathi who was faraway from the party structures and instead we gave councillors the mandate to elect the mayor and deputy from among themselves.

"Now what really happened at these other councils, we can't and will not tolerate indiscipline," he said.

Dr Sipepa Nkomo clashed with the party president, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, a couple of weeks ago when he led a delegation to the city and ordered councillors to vote for Dr Nyathi for the position of mayor, a move that was resisted by councillors and also saw the former Cabinet minister immediately voicing his displeasure to the party president.

During the party's last congress that was held in Bulawayo, there was controversy over the election of the current Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Mr Gorden Moyo, with allegations that he could have bribed himself to the position after he beat the more popular Senator Matson Hlalo.

Meanwhile, Dr Sipepa Nkomo, who was recently appointed the shadow minister of Agriculture, Land and Water Development by his party, defended the move saying this was not a new phenomenon as it was in place in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

"This is not an alternative government as has been suggested by many but we are simply a shadow government. My job is to sit on the current ministers, monitor them and speak out.

"We are not there to fight but it will be more of engagement. As it is, I am set to meet Minister Kasukuwere on Wednesday to brief him on the progress I had made in key water projects in the country," said Dr Sipepa Nkomo.