Are MDC Mat South problems finally over?

The MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube has held two very crucial meetings with the Matebeleland South leadership in a drive to solve problems bedeviling the party in that province.

In the latest of its meetings, the party held a Provincial Council meeting in Bulawayo over the weekend electing new members into the province's committee. Pilate Ndebele the party's losing candidate for Bulilima East in the July elections was elected new provincial chairman beating former Gwanda Mayor Lionel Deneiker by a single vote. Also elected into the provincial structure was Silethemba Njani who was put into the position of Deputy Organising Secretary position previously held by Ndebele. Little known Robert Ndlovu who is reported to have been a losing candidate in Gwanda North Ward 4 council elections was voted in absentia to be Secretary for political education and training.

In a statement issued by the party, the new chairman immediately endorsed the controversial decision by party leadership to have party Secretary General Priscillia Misihairabwi - Mushonga as parliamentary representative for the province. The party and province were set for a split over Mushonga's candidature as most senior members of the province rejected her secondment to the position as it was said to be against the party's policy of devolution of power. The senior members believed and insist that Mushonga is not from Matebeleland South province or if she has any little links there is not ordinarily resident in the province and so cannot represent the province. The statement also states that any previous press statements made by members of the party on the issue were not party position but individual positions. Provincial leaders of the party some who have since resigned or threatened to resign or have been dismissed from the party or have expressed their undying commitment to the party expressed varied statements on Mushonga's issue in the press.

First to go was dismissed Provincial chairman Petros Mukwena who did not mince his words dismissing the secondment of Mushonga to parliament as a Matebeleland South representative.His sentiments were echoed by resigned Insiza South former MP Siyabonga Malandu, former Gwanda Central MP Patrick Dube and former Mangwe MP Edward Mukhosi who has also threatened to resign. National Executive member without portfolio Ngqabutho Mabhena (Dube) came to the fold castigating the former MPs supporting the party's decision to put Mushonga in parliament for Matebeleland South. Mabhena (Dube) accused the former parliamentarians as being "male chauvinists" who hated Mushonga based on her being a woman. In contrast to Mabhena (Dube), the chairperson of the province's women wing also castigated the party decision on the issue.

As per the statement issue by the party that all future correspondences on the matters of Matebeleland South and Mushonga's issue will be made through the province's spokesperson and or new chairman this reporter could not reach the new chairman but however managed to get hold of provincial spokes person Mrs Thobekile Nyathi in Gwanda. Mrs Nyathi surprisingly declined to associate herself with the said Provincial Council meeting as she stated that she had not been invited to any of the meetings. According to Nyathi as far as she is concerned she is waiting for a provincial meeting that will be held in Gwanda soon where province is going to express their unhappiness over Mushonga's appointment to parliament on a Mat South ticket at the expense of women from the province.

Another party member in Gwanda who is also a member of the Provincial Youth wing also expressed similar sentiments to Nyathi stating that the meeting was not communicated to all concerned people in the province and was a secret gathering to try and elevate Deneicker to Mat South chairmanship and endorse the dismissal of Mukwena and Mushonga to parliament behind the people's back. According to the member who wanted to remain anonymous, the meeting was unconstitutional and did not have even a quorum nor mandate to hold an election. Quoting from the party constitution the member says that a full provincial council should have about 120 people and a quorum is half of those people. According to reports the Bulawayo meeting only had under 30 members attending. The member also states that according to the constitution only a provincial assembly has a mandate to hold elections for executive members more so the chairman.

This leaves a question as to whether the MDC Matebeleland South issues are finally over or its just a start of the problem in a different direction.