'Chamisa plays tribal politics in Bulawayo'

MDC Alliance president Mr Nelson Chamisa has been accused of playing tribal politics in Bulawayo to shut out perceived enemies and ensure his cronies win provincial congress elections held in the city on Wednesday.

Party sources said their leader's ZanuPF like actions had left a majority of them disgruntled and may cause the party to lose future elections in the province.

Chamisa allegedly presided over allegedly chaotic elections that kicked off up to 15 hours late after midnight.

Chamisa's deputy Professor Welshman Ncube was shut for the Vice Presidency and nominated for the Secretary General post.

The province nominated Ms Lilian Timveos, Mr Morgen Komichi and Mr Tendai Biti to run for MDC Alliance Vice President in the party's forthcoming national congress.

Chamisa allegedly used a faction that has been linked to him even before the death of the party's iconic leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai on February 14 last year, to ensure victory for his preferred candidates.

The Cobra faction is allegedly made up of Shona speaking people who have a WhatsApp group called Abantwana BakaNehanda which fans tribalism in the opposition party.

"The Cobra faction that Chamisa belonged to in 2014 when he was beaten by Douglas Mwonzora for the secretary general post, ensured that mostly known Chamisa sympathisers voted. They provided security under the direction of party chairperson Tabitha Khumalo and barred those who were likely to oppose Chamisa's wishes from voting. Districts like Mpopoma, Luveve, Makokoba and Entumbane- known anti-Cobra strongholds didn't vote at all due to deliberately planned chaos," said a party insider on condition of anonymity.

The source said it was frightening to note that Chamisa had developed ZanuPF tendencies of ignoring the will of the people.
"if a full party leader can connive with interested parties at provincial level to rig elections, it's a sad trait that we knew existed in ZanuPF. It is why most of us left ZanuPF hoping for democracy in the MDC," said another party member.

Khumalo could not be reached for comment but MDC national spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume said tribalism and irregularities in the Bulawayo elections were false.

"All our provincial congress progressed smoothly, including in Bulawayo progressed smoothly. We have not received formal complaints in terms of our constitution over any irregularity.

Winning candidates and the losing candidates have all pledged to work together in order for us to succeed as a party. Should we receive any complaints or any specific irregularities it would be dealt with in terms of our constitution and it would be dealt with before the main congress," said Mr Mafume.