Storm brews in MDC over Misihairabwi deployment

Controversy over the nomination of Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga to the National Assembly could split the MDC led by Welshman Ncube if Ncube ignores demands from senior party members to recall her.

Highly-placed sources in the party said this week that senior officials, including party deputy president Edwin Mushoriwa, former Healing and Reconciliation co-minister Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, former Copac co-chairperson Edward Mkhosi, suspended Matabeleland South chairperson Petros Mukwena and deputy spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi, are particularly galled by the fact that Misihairabwi-Mushonga was placed on the Matabeleland South proportional representation list even though she is not from the province, and want her recalled from parliament.

MDC structures in Matabeleland South have intensified their plot to oust the party's secretary-general, Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, accusing her of imposing herself in the party's provincial proportional representation list that resulted in her landing a National Assembly seat.

Party officials accused Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga of violating the party's principles by imposing herself.

They said her actions were likely to tear the party - already ailing following its crushing defeat in the 31 July harmonised elections - apart.

"Everyone in Matabeleland South is not happy with the imposition of Misihairabwi-Mushonga to the National Assembly. Such actions are bound to destroy our party and already some members are contemplating leaving because the move is against our principles," said the official.

The nomination of Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga to Parliament under the proportional representation system is being opposed by the party's provincial chairperson, Mr Petros Mukwena, former Members of Parliament, Messrs Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, Siyabonga Malandu-Ncube and Patrick Dube, all high ranking party members in Matabeleland South.

The quartet, last Thursday, held a meeting with the party leader, Professor Welshman Ncube and demanded that he withdraws Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga's nomination and appoints someone else from the province.

They argued that proper channels were not followed in the nomination process. In an interview yesterday, Mr Mzila-Ndlovu confirmed the development and said they were now calling for the removal of Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga from Parliament because no consensus was reached.

"Our position is very clear, Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga does not belong to Matabeleland South hence we demand that she vacates the seat forthwith.

"There was no consensus on her nomination and her deployment to Parliament is therefore improper," said Mr Mzila-Ndlovu.
He vowed that they would fight hard until Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga vacated the seat.

Mr Mukwena, who was at the forefront of trying to block Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga from being nominated, also confirmed that he was once suspended for questioning the national executive on the party secretary-general's move from Glen Norah in Harare where she was a Member of Parliament until she lost the seat in the 2008 elections.

Mr Mukwena accused Mr Paul Themba Nyathi, the party's treasurer-general, of having a hand in the nomination of Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga.

"Mr Nyathi should also be investigated because he facilitated Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga in her unprocedural nomination as a pay back for appointing him to the Jomic while she was still a minister under the Inclusive Government. Misihairabwi used all Jomic members as her stooges and that helped her in clandestinely filing her nomination papers following protest from the provincial structures," said Mr Mukwena.

"Members in the province are not happy at all over Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga's representation, because she is not part of us. Surprisingly the same woman who claims to represent women ran away from her province in Masvingo to Matabeleland South," said Mr Mukwena.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga's mother is from Umzingwane District in Matabeleland South. According to a document seen by Chronicle, which shows the original women's quota list for Matabeleland South, Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga's name was on fourth position.
It was then later changed and placed at the top replacing Ms Elizabeth Ndlovu, who appeared to be the province's favourite for the seat. Ms Ndlovu is the party's provincial chairperson of the Women's Assembly.

Other names that appeared in the list include Mpumelelo Nkomo, Angeline Ndlovu, Lorraine Sibanda, Hellenic Ncube, Judith Ncube, Nokuthula Ndlovu, Tsitsi Dube, Oltah Moyo and Joyce Ndlovu, who also secured a parliamentary seat under the women's quota.
Contacted for comment, Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga declined to speak to Chronicle.

"How many times have I told you that I am not willing to respond to that issue?" she said.
Mr Mukwena said prior to the swearing-in ceremony for legislators they tried to block Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga from taking up her seat.

He said a special meeting of the standing committee was held on Sunday and Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga's issue took centre stage among other topical issues.

The party also undertook a post-mortem of its performance in the harmonised elections. Contacted for comment, MDC spokesperson, Mr Nhlanhla Dube dismissed the feud over Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga's alleged imposition.

"I am not aware of that issue. You better get your facts right and come back to me," he said.