News / National
MDC-T members hang in balance as they meet to decide future in the party
07 Oct 2014 at 11:20hrs | Views
DISGRUNTLED MDC-T members from Lobengula, Makokoba, Bulawayo East, Magwegwe and Pelandaba-Mpopoma districts who were reportedly barred by the party's leader Morgan Tsvangirai to participate at the Provincial elections over the weekend will meet tomorrow to decide their future in the party, a source close to developments has said.
Several MDC-T members in Bulawayo were irked by the party's to endorse Tsvangirai to preside over the elections which were repotedly marred by allegations of massive rigging and violence.
The chaos culminated in some of the disgruntled members crossing the floor to join the rival MDC Renewal Movement fronted by ex-MDC-T big wigs Tendai Biti and Samuel Sipepa Nkomo.
Among the notable defectors are MP Albert Mhlanga, former MDC-T women's assembly chairperson Gladys Mathe and some councillors. MDC-Renewal claims up to 500 people have defected to them from the MDC-T.
A source close to the circus today confided to Bulawayo24 that about 14 councillors were also standing on their toes and would likely tender their resignations this week as frustrations over the party's undemocratic tendencies reach boiling point.
"We are meeting tomorrow to decide our future in the party," a party insider said on condition of anonymity for fear of internal reprisals.
"We understand the party's executive is meeting on Friday to address alleged the chaos linked to the recent elections but as members from affected districts we think it is better to meet ahead of them before they find a solution," the source said.
Bulawayo Deputy Mayor, Gift Banda, reported to be Tsvangirai's blue-eyed boy, was chosen provincial chairman ahead of Matson Hlalo, who was a front-runner. Hlalo is said to be mulling contesting the result of the lection at the High Court.
There were also reports of violence at the Makokoba Stanley Square, the venue of the nomination process but no arrests have been made to date. MDC-T officials, in a bid to conceal, growing levels of intolerance in the party, insist there is nothing amiss in the camp.
Several MDC-T members in Bulawayo were irked by the party's to endorse Tsvangirai to preside over the elections which were repotedly marred by allegations of massive rigging and violence.
The chaos culminated in some of the disgruntled members crossing the floor to join the rival MDC Renewal Movement fronted by ex-MDC-T big wigs Tendai Biti and Samuel Sipepa Nkomo.
Among the notable defectors are MP Albert Mhlanga, former MDC-T women's assembly chairperson Gladys Mathe and some councillors. MDC-Renewal claims up to 500 people have defected to them from the MDC-T.
"We are meeting tomorrow to decide our future in the party," a party insider said on condition of anonymity for fear of internal reprisals.
"We understand the party's executive is meeting on Friday to address alleged the chaos linked to the recent elections but as members from affected districts we think it is better to meet ahead of them before they find a solution," the source said.
Bulawayo Deputy Mayor, Gift Banda, reported to be Tsvangirai's blue-eyed boy, was chosen provincial chairman ahead of Matson Hlalo, who was a front-runner. Hlalo is said to be mulling contesting the result of the lection at the High Court.
There were also reports of violence at the Makokoba Stanley Square, the venue of the nomination process but no arrests have been made to date. MDC-T officials, in a bid to conceal, growing levels of intolerance in the party, insist there is nothing amiss in the camp.
Source - Byo24News
