News / Regional
MDC war of words continues
29 Oct 2013 at 08:32hrs | Views
War of words in the press and social networks between senior members of the MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube continues to escalate on a daily basis raising fears of imminent factionalism in the battered party.
The MDC appeared posed for a major upset going to the July 31 elections as its membership and attendance at meetings was doubling on a daily bases. Of the three major parties in the election race, the party for a long time appeared to be the most organised and most principled. For a while everyone feared the so called "green machine" as it appeared ready to consume everything on its way to state house.
Problems started shortly before nomination of candidates when everyone jostled to be a candidate particularly in the party's presumed stronghold of Matebeleland South. The party had previously had almost all of its parliamentary seats in Matebeleland South and no one doubted the possibility of it sweeping the province yet again and so everyone wanted to be candidate there.
Of all people jostling for seats in Matebeleland South the biggest shock was party Secretary General Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga who previously had contested in Glenorah Constituency in Harare. Party insiders also indicate that party Director of strategy and Implementation Miriam Mushayi had also tendered her application to stand in the province under Insiza Constituency before withdrawing. Party Treasurer General Paul Temba Nyathi who also had previously contested elections in Entumbane Constituency in Bulawayo also moved his candidature to Matebeleland South. The National Mobilising Secretary Albert Masotsha Ndlovu who had also previously contested in Chegutu Constituency also moved his candidature to Matebeleland South province.
The mass exodus to Matebeleland South ignited a serious war of words started by the then Provincial Chairman Petros Mukwena who was bitterly fighting the crossing of candidates to "his" province. Mukwena for a start fought a lone battle opposing what he called the imposition of Mushonga to the Matebeleland South Province. Everyone sort of ignored Mukwena's calls perhaps with the belief the party was going to sweep the province. None of all the other candidates especially those in the proportional representation lists opposed or voiced against this order leading to Mukwena's suspension early in the year and dismissal a few weeks ago.
War started when election results came out and the party had performed dismally getting only 2% of the votes. Suddenly it dawned on some that the party listing of candidates was irregular and yet Mushonga had made it to parliament. First to speak was none other than the then suspended Petros Mukwena who sang his same old song against Mushonga. Next was the loud voice of Insiza strong man Siyabonga Malandu, then Moses Mzila of Bulilima, the Patrick Dube of Gwanda all former legislatures. Party Spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube was daily on the run trying to contain the war of words against Priscilla Mushonga but every other day a new voice came up.
Tempers got worse when Bulawayo strongman Charles Mpofu also got into the fray dismissing Mushonga and supporting Mukwena and his allies. Nhlanhla Dube tried to "correct" Mpofu's sentiments and got himself bombarded by Mpofu using words such as "political novice" in reference to the party spokesman. While still at that came into the fray Matebeleland South Women's Chair lady Elizabeth Ndlovu calling the party president Welshman Ncube a divisive loser. On his dismissal Mukwena came out trailblazing belittling party president to an extent of challenging him to an election contest to see who was more popular in the province between the two of them.
The biggest blow came with the resignation of party policy guru Qhubani Moyo who in his resignation statement belittled the party to a near non existent ant that will never stand the might of Zanu-PF. In his various press statements and interview Moyo criticised the party for its lack of a convincing policy and predicted its inevitable disintegration in the nearest future. Moyo's sentiments were echoed by little known Matebeleland South Youth Treasurer who castigated the party for its lack of defined ideology in his resignation from the party to rival MDC T. The youthful politician also castigated the party for its imposition of Mushonga in Matebeleland South.
While the papers were busy editing the cross insults between the senior members, social networks were also buzz with the same war. Party Deputy Director of Strategy Joshua Mhambi took a field day in his Facebook update to castigate Petros Mukwena and his allies as failed opportunists who had no future in politics. In another of his updates he likened his old friend Qhubani Moyo to Demos in the Bible, a man who deserted Paul "for his love of things of the world" suggesting that Moyo had dumped the party for rival Zanu-PF.
The latest into the fray is Mzingwane losing candidate Ngqabutho Dube (now Mabhena) who has made a press statement dismissing all those calling for Mushonga's recall from parliament as selfish male chauvinist who are only interested pursuing their own personal agendas against the party. Mabhena gave the highest accolade of Mushonga ever made of her in recent publications. His statement was immediately challenged by Youth Secretary General Descent Bajila in his Facebook page describing Mabhena as rusting gold in apparent shock at Mabhena's glorifying of what everyone finds incorrect.
With counter argument and another counter it looks like we are positioned for more drama coming our way from the once highly considered green party. Of much interest is the level at which the war of words in the party is stationed, the party's top leadership. This leaves people wondering if the party ever holds closed door meetings where people will be left to air their grievances and opinions in confidence than fly dirty linen in public. We take a front row seat and watch as events unfold. Bring it on Green Machine.
The MDC appeared posed for a major upset going to the July 31 elections as its membership and attendance at meetings was doubling on a daily bases. Of the three major parties in the election race, the party for a long time appeared to be the most organised and most principled. For a while everyone feared the so called "green machine" as it appeared ready to consume everything on its way to state house.
Problems started shortly before nomination of candidates when everyone jostled to be a candidate particularly in the party's presumed stronghold of Matebeleland South. The party had previously had almost all of its parliamentary seats in Matebeleland South and no one doubted the possibility of it sweeping the province yet again and so everyone wanted to be candidate there.
Of all people jostling for seats in Matebeleland South the biggest shock was party Secretary General Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga who previously had contested in Glenorah Constituency in Harare. Party insiders also indicate that party Director of strategy and Implementation Miriam Mushayi had also tendered her application to stand in the province under Insiza Constituency before withdrawing. Party Treasurer General Paul Temba Nyathi who also had previously contested elections in Entumbane Constituency in Bulawayo also moved his candidature to Matebeleland South. The National Mobilising Secretary Albert Masotsha Ndlovu who had also previously contested in Chegutu Constituency also moved his candidature to Matebeleland South province.
The mass exodus to Matebeleland South ignited a serious war of words started by the then Provincial Chairman Petros Mukwena who was bitterly fighting the crossing of candidates to "his" province. Mukwena for a start fought a lone battle opposing what he called the imposition of Mushonga to the Matebeleland South Province. Everyone sort of ignored Mukwena's calls perhaps with the belief the party was going to sweep the province. None of all the other candidates especially those in the proportional representation lists opposed or voiced against this order leading to Mukwena's suspension early in the year and dismissal a few weeks ago.
War started when election results came out and the party had performed dismally getting only 2% of the votes. Suddenly it dawned on some that the party listing of candidates was irregular and yet Mushonga had made it to parliament. First to speak was none other than the then suspended Petros Mukwena who sang his same old song against Mushonga. Next was the loud voice of Insiza strong man Siyabonga Malandu, then Moses Mzila of Bulilima, the Patrick Dube of Gwanda all former legislatures. Party Spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube was daily on the run trying to contain the war of words against Priscilla Mushonga but every other day a new voice came up.
Tempers got worse when Bulawayo strongman Charles Mpofu also got into the fray dismissing Mushonga and supporting Mukwena and his allies. Nhlanhla Dube tried to "correct" Mpofu's sentiments and got himself bombarded by Mpofu using words such as "political novice" in reference to the party spokesman. While still at that came into the fray Matebeleland South Women's Chair lady Elizabeth Ndlovu calling the party president Welshman Ncube a divisive loser. On his dismissal Mukwena came out trailblazing belittling party president to an extent of challenging him to an election contest to see who was more popular in the province between the two of them.
The biggest blow came with the resignation of party policy guru Qhubani Moyo who in his resignation statement belittled the party to a near non existent ant that will never stand the might of Zanu-PF. In his various press statements and interview Moyo criticised the party for its lack of a convincing policy and predicted its inevitable disintegration in the nearest future. Moyo's sentiments were echoed by little known Matebeleland South Youth Treasurer who castigated the party for its lack of defined ideology in his resignation from the party to rival MDC T. The youthful politician also castigated the party for its imposition of Mushonga in Matebeleland South.
While the papers were busy editing the cross insults between the senior members, social networks were also buzz with the same war. Party Deputy Director of Strategy Joshua Mhambi took a field day in his Facebook update to castigate Petros Mukwena and his allies as failed opportunists who had no future in politics. In another of his updates he likened his old friend Qhubani Moyo to Demos in the Bible, a man who deserted Paul "for his love of things of the world" suggesting that Moyo had dumped the party for rival Zanu-PF.
The latest into the fray is Mzingwane losing candidate Ngqabutho Dube (now Mabhena) who has made a press statement dismissing all those calling for Mushonga's recall from parliament as selfish male chauvinist who are only interested pursuing their own personal agendas against the party. Mabhena gave the highest accolade of Mushonga ever made of her in recent publications. His statement was immediately challenged by Youth Secretary General Descent Bajila in his Facebook page describing Mabhena as rusting gold in apparent shock at Mabhena's glorifying of what everyone finds incorrect.
With counter argument and another counter it looks like we are positioned for more drama coming our way from the once highly considered green party. Of much interest is the level at which the war of words in the party is stationed, the party's top leadership. This leaves people wondering if the party ever holds closed door meetings where people will be left to air their grievances and opinions in confidence than fly dirty linen in public. We take a front row seat and watch as events unfold. Bring it on Green Machine.
Source - Byo24News
