News / National
MDC-T in another Copac boob, undermines people from Matabeleland
28 Sep 2011 at 18:18hrs | Views
HARARE - THE Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Prime Minister Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has done it again at Copac.
This time around the party has only four representatives from Matabeleland region a development that has attracted a torrent of attacks from MDC -T activists, party insiders have said.
The representatives are – civic society activist – Pastor Useni Sibanda, Pumula constituency legislator – Albert Mhlanga, clergyman – Douglas Moyo and trade unionist – Z D Shambare.
These are the only people that the MDC-T found to be competent enough in the region to represent it at national level.
Copac is the Parliamentary Select Committee charged with a duty of coming up with the new constitution of Zimbabwe in terms as one of the deliverables of The Global Political Agreement as stated in Article 6.
Each of the three political parties at Copac (Zanu PF, MDC and MDC T) has 23 representatives.
"How can they exclude us from the process and put people like Professor John Makumbe, Jacob Mapfume, Trust Mamombe, Useni Sibanda,
ZD Shambarae and Moyo," fumed a youth activist from Bulawayo who was elbowed away from Copac this time around.
The irked activist added that Makumbe, Shambare, Moyo and Sibanda were just civic society activists who cannot be traced to any party
structures.
"This is not the first time Mwonzora and his team in Harare where the party is run from have disregarded us in Matabeleland. Even last time, they just called five people from Ndebeles out of 120, it all rank tribalism in the party," he said.
Contacted for comment MDC T Spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora said:
"The tribalism claim is just rubbish. All we did as party was choosing people on the basis of their capacity," he said.
Asked on whether there are only three Ndebeles who are competent to be part of the team of 23 representing his party – Mwonzora replied:
"We get names from provincial leaders and cannot interfere or change those names if the leadership of Matabeleland or Manicaland has given
us what they have, the short listing was developed using academic qualifications, computer literacy and general knowledge he said.
Investigations by www.bulawayo24.com have revealed that the other MDC formation led by Professor Welshman Ncube has nine people from Matabeleland – all within their structures.
These are - Qhubani Moyo, Nhlanhla Bahlangene Dube, Discent Collins Bajila, Rita Moyo, Khumbulani Malinga, Marita Dube, Mazha Sansole, Jasmine Tofa, Noble Malunguza, Busani Ncube and the only civic society activist - Godwin Phiri.
Whereas Zanu PF - Bubi legislator - Clifford Sibanda, Bubi-Mguza senator – Lot Mbambo from Matabeleland - the rest are either University of Zimbabwe lecturers or junior party members drawn from Mashonaland.
Members of the academia deployed by Zanu PF include the controversial Dr Tafataona Mahoso, Professors - Audrey Chivaura and Claude Mararike.
Zanu PF's controversial deployees include the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe President Bishop Trevor Manhanga, National Incomes and Pricing Commission chairman - Dr Goodwills Masimirembwi and Patrick Zhuwawo's white wife - Beauty.
Patrick Zhuwawo is Zwimba East legislator and a son to President Mugabe's late sister Sabina.
Copac started work on June 24 last year and since then the process has been dogged by several problems from funding and knowledge of what needs to be done to disagreements by the three main political parties in the process over policies, processes and simple things like templates to use.
After the outreach program, Copac did data capturing , followed by the sitting of thematic committee teams, - who at this stage doing district, provincial and the national report.
After this critical process, drafting of the new supreme law of the land will follow and a referendum leading to elections.
After that Zimbabwe will have its elections.
This time around the party has only four representatives from Matabeleland region a development that has attracted a torrent of attacks from MDC -T activists, party insiders have said.
The representatives are – civic society activist – Pastor Useni Sibanda, Pumula constituency legislator – Albert Mhlanga, clergyman – Douglas Moyo and trade unionist – Z D Shambare.
These are the only people that the MDC-T found to be competent enough in the region to represent it at national level.
Copac is the Parliamentary Select Committee charged with a duty of coming up with the new constitution of Zimbabwe in terms as one of the deliverables of The Global Political Agreement as stated in Article 6.
Each of the three political parties at Copac (Zanu PF, MDC and MDC T) has 23 representatives.
"How can they exclude us from the process and put people like Professor John Makumbe, Jacob Mapfume, Trust Mamombe, Useni Sibanda,
ZD Shambarae and Moyo," fumed a youth activist from Bulawayo who was elbowed away from Copac this time around.
The irked activist added that Makumbe, Shambare, Moyo and Sibanda were just civic society activists who cannot be traced to any party
structures.
"This is not the first time Mwonzora and his team in Harare where the party is run from have disregarded us in Matabeleland. Even last time, they just called five people from Ndebeles out of 120, it all rank tribalism in the party," he said.
Contacted for comment MDC T Spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora said:
"The tribalism claim is just rubbish. All we did as party was choosing people on the basis of their capacity," he said.
"We get names from provincial leaders and cannot interfere or change those names if the leadership of Matabeleland or Manicaland has given
us what they have, the short listing was developed using academic qualifications, computer literacy and general knowledge he said.
Investigations by www.bulawayo24.com have revealed that the other MDC formation led by Professor Welshman Ncube has nine people from Matabeleland – all within their structures.
These are - Qhubani Moyo, Nhlanhla Bahlangene Dube, Discent Collins Bajila, Rita Moyo, Khumbulani Malinga, Marita Dube, Mazha Sansole, Jasmine Tofa, Noble Malunguza, Busani Ncube and the only civic society activist - Godwin Phiri.
Whereas Zanu PF - Bubi legislator - Clifford Sibanda, Bubi-Mguza senator – Lot Mbambo from Matabeleland - the rest are either University of Zimbabwe lecturers or junior party members drawn from Mashonaland.
Members of the academia deployed by Zanu PF include the controversial Dr Tafataona Mahoso, Professors - Audrey Chivaura and Claude Mararike.
Zanu PF's controversial deployees include the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe President Bishop Trevor Manhanga, National Incomes and Pricing Commission chairman - Dr Goodwills Masimirembwi and Patrick Zhuwawo's white wife - Beauty.
Patrick Zhuwawo is Zwimba East legislator and a son to President Mugabe's late sister Sabina.
Copac started work on June 24 last year and since then the process has been dogged by several problems from funding and knowledge of what needs to be done to disagreements by the three main political parties in the process over policies, processes and simple things like templates to use.
After the outreach program, Copac did data capturing , followed by the sitting of thematic committee teams, - who at this stage doing district, provincial and the national report.
After this critical process, drafting of the new supreme law of the land will follow and a referendum leading to elections.
After that Zimbabwe will have its elections.
Source - Byo24News
