News / Regional
Tsvangirai gagged MPs from discussing Gukurahundi in parliament - claims
13 Jul 2013 at 06:13hrs | Views
MDC-T rebel candidate for Magwegwe constituency Mr Felix Mafa Sibanda has accused party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and his lieutenants of hypocrisy after they allegedly gagged members from discussing the Gukurahundi issue in Parliament but is quick to unpack the subject every election time.
Mr Sibanda, who is the outgoing MDC-T legislator for Magwegwe, said he decided to stand as an independent candidate together with his other colleagues to bring "true democracy" to Parliament.
He was speaking at the official launch of the Independent Candidates Coalition on Tuesday in Gweru. The coalition brought together former MDC-T members who are contesting the harmonised elections as independents.
"Every time we wanted to discuss the Gukurahundi issue in Parliament, we were silenced by our own party, MDC-T.
"Mr Tsvangirai will tell us not to table such a topic for discussion in Parliament but the party is quick to use the Gukurahundi story during election time as a means to win votes in Matabeleland. That is not democracy," he said.
Mr Sibanda, who is spokesperson for the Independent Candidates Coalition, said together with his colleagues they were standing as independents because of the rot bedevilling MDC-T.
He said Mr Tsvangirai had lost control of the party to power hungry individuals.
"Mr Tsvangirai is being misled. Certain individuals in MDC-T have grown too powerful and dangerous, stifling democracy."
Mr Sibanda, who is the outgoing MDC-T legislator for Magwegwe, said he decided to stand as an independent candidate together with his other colleagues to bring "true democracy" to Parliament.
He was speaking at the official launch of the Independent Candidates Coalition on Tuesday in Gweru. The coalition brought together former MDC-T members who are contesting the harmonised elections as independents.
"Every time we wanted to discuss the Gukurahundi issue in Parliament, we were silenced by our own party, MDC-T.
"Mr Tsvangirai will tell us not to table such a topic for discussion in Parliament but the party is quick to use the Gukurahundi story during election time as a means to win votes in Matabeleland. That is not democracy," he said.
Mr Sibanda, who is spokesperson for the Independent Candidates Coalition, said together with his colleagues they were standing as independents because of the rot bedevilling MDC-T.
He said Mr Tsvangirai had lost control of the party to power hungry individuals.
"Mr Tsvangirai is being misled. Certain individuals in MDC-T have grown too powerful and dangerous, stifling democracy."
Source - chronicle
