Chamisa fails to douse Bulawayo factional flames

THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC national leadership on Monday failed to douse factional flames in Bulawayo, where a section of disgruntled party members is demanding a re-run of the provincial congress, citing voter fraud.

So intense are the divisions that graffiti was painted at the party offices on Monday, accusing Chamisa of allegedly endorsing the provincial congress despite allegations that it was fraught with irregularities.

Chamisa was in the city for a provincial caucus where contestants vying for posts at the upcoming congress were presenting their manifestos.

Insiders said the MDC national organising department, led by Amos Chibaya, met the "disgruntled" faction, calling for a re-run of the provincial congress at the party's Bulawayo offices on Monday to find common ground, but without success.

Southern Eye understands that the national organising department is refusing to endorse a re-run and instead offered the disgruntled members various positions in several party portfolios which they refused.

MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume yesterday said the party was seized with the matter in a bid to nudge feuding factions to "close ranks and build the party" and grab power from Zanu-PF.
"We are in the process of dealing with issues related to the congresses. There are no losers or winners in this process," Mafume said.

"The party is big enough to integrate everyone. We are all part of a machinery needed to deal with Zanu-PF. We will integrate the leadership to deal with any contestations and deal with any alleviation of the problems that the people of Zimbabwe are facing using the vehicle of the MDC, the only alternative vehicle of choice."

The disgruntled members recently protested to the MDC national executive committee over the outcome of the provincial congress held more than a fortnight ago at Stanley Square in Makokoba suburb.

In a notice of appeal, the members argued that the congress violated several sections of the opposition party's constitution.