Mpofu elected MDC-Renewal chair

FORMER Bulawayo deputy mayor Amen Mpofu was yesterday elected as MDC-Renewal Bulawayo provincial chairman and he quickly pledged to set up vibrant structures.

Mpofu trounced Cowdary Park councillor Collet Ndlovu as he garnered 89 votes against 47.

A total of 136 people voted.

The seat fell vacant early January after the resignation of Kucaca Phulu.

In his inaugural speech as chairman after polls conducted at the party's national chairman Samuel Sipepa Nkomo's Lobengula house, Mpofu said he was proud of winning the polls.

"I am very proud, not because I won the post, but what I am proud of is that we conducted our elections peacefully," he said.

"That is a big election campaign statement.

"Some people were expecting violence."

Mpofu appealed that all party members continue to put MDC- Renewal ahead of their personal interests.

"However, let me make an appeal, we are here not to promote individuals, but the party," he said.

"What is important is the party not the individual.

"I would like to assure you that the province will be vibrant and that will be possible with your support."

However, before the elections, there was commotion outside the venue as some youths protested the screening criteria used.

Some youths were seen pushing and shoving.

Meanwhile, Sipepa Nkomo said MDC-Renewal did not tolerate factionalism.

"As MDC-Renewal, we do not tolerate factionalism," he said.

"There is no excuse for rigging, no excuse for hate speech and factions.

"When we notice factions cropping up we deal with them decisively.

"We do not want to sink to the levels of MDC-T, where factionalism) is the order of the day."

Sipepa Nkomo warned members against hero-worshiping leaders, saying this tended to create monsters.

"We do not celebrate them, they are servants," he said.

"We do not want to create monsters."

MDC-Renewal and the MDC merged late last year and now operate under the banner of United Movement for Democratic Change (UMDC).

The UMDC, in the interim, is led by Welshman Ncube and Sekai Holland until its inaugural elective congress, tentatively slated for August.