News / National
Khupe allies ditch by-elections
12 Jan 2022 at 18:11hrs | Views
Two MDC-T aspiring councillors linked to party deputy president Thokozani Khupe have withdrawn their candidature for Bulawayo council by-elections slated for March 26 this year.
The pair, Sibusisiswe Adams and Shilla Musonda communicated its positions to the party leadership through two separates letters written to MDC-T secretary general Paurina Mpariwa on 7 January.
"I, Sibusisiswe Adams hereby withdraw my candidature in ward 9 by-elections. Can I be removed from your list of candidates," Adams wrote.
Musonda also wrote, "I Shilla Musonda nee Nkomo would like to notify you of my withdrawal from the candidate list in ward 8 by-election.
"I would be glad if your office can withdraw my name from the candidates list."
The two did not disclose reasons behind their withdrawal.
The pair has links to Khupe, who has fallen out with party leader Douglas Mwonzora.
MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube played down the withdrawals saying the two jumped the gun as they were not yet confirmed as party representatives for the by-elections.
"These are very unpopular people, even if they were Khupe loyalists, they were never going to make it anyway. We have our own candidates list who are being discussed as consensus candidates," he told Zimstar News Tuesday.
"You talk of Shilla Nkomo for instance, she was once a councillor in Mzilikazi there and she was voted out. So, she is a second time entrant.
"You have got this Adams; she has perennially been trying to be a candidate and failing because really I think people know she has nothing to offer.
"They are making news out of their Khupe affiliation but to us, it's a non-issue. We know they were never going to make it through the internal party processes anywhere."
"They were really not a factor among the many candidates that we have."
It could however not be established how Khupe may have played a part in influencing the two politicians to dump elections.
The pair, Sibusisiswe Adams and Shilla Musonda communicated its positions to the party leadership through two separates letters written to MDC-T secretary general Paurina Mpariwa on 7 January.
"I, Sibusisiswe Adams hereby withdraw my candidature in ward 9 by-elections. Can I be removed from your list of candidates," Adams wrote.
Musonda also wrote, "I Shilla Musonda nee Nkomo would like to notify you of my withdrawal from the candidate list in ward 8 by-election.
"I would be glad if your office can withdraw my name from the candidates list."
The two did not disclose reasons behind their withdrawal.
The pair has links to Khupe, who has fallen out with party leader Douglas Mwonzora.
MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube played down the withdrawals saying the two jumped the gun as they were not yet confirmed as party representatives for the by-elections.
"These are very unpopular people, even if they were Khupe loyalists, they were never going to make it anyway. We have our own candidates list who are being discussed as consensus candidates," he told Zimstar News Tuesday.
"You talk of Shilla Nkomo for instance, she was once a councillor in Mzilikazi there and she was voted out. So, she is a second time entrant.
"You have got this Adams; she has perennially been trying to be a candidate and failing because really I think people know she has nothing to offer.
"They are making news out of their Khupe affiliation but to us, it's a non-issue. We know they were never going to make it through the internal party processes anywhere."
"They were really not a factor among the many candidates that we have."
It could however not be established how Khupe may have played a part in influencing the two politicians to dump elections.
Source - Zimstar News
