THE MDC-T led by Mr Nelson Chamisa is in turmoil after
failing to finalise the list of candidates to represent the party in Bulawayo
as infighting continues, a few days before the Nomination Court sits on
Thursday.
This comes amid revelations that party members from
Emakhandeni-Entumbane and Magwegwe constituencies have since engaged lawyers to
force the party to hold primary elections in the two constituencies.
The party’s provincial leadership had shelved the holding
of the primary elections in the two constituencies claiming the need to protect
some of the sitting MPs in the province.
Mr Anele Ndebele is the MP for Magwegwe while Mr Dingilizwe
Tshuma represents Entumbane-Emakhandeni. However, the residents have since
engaged Samp Mlaudzi and Partners to force the province to hold the primary
elections.
The lawyers have written a letter to the party leadership
highlighting the concerns of the aggrieved supporters.
“We are instructed that there are fully paid up members of
MDC who submitted their curricula vitarum (CVs) to the Bulawayo provincial
committee in terms of Article 15,3 of the MDC constitution as they desired to
be entered on the panel of approved members of the party in good standing who
wish to stand for election as members of the House of Assembly.
“For Magwegwe constituency six members and for
Emakhandeni-Entumbane, two members are seeking to hold offices as members of
the House of Assembly. It follows therefore that not all of them can stand in
elections representing MDC in the harmonised elections and as such a primary
election has to be held in terms of Article 15,11 of the MDC constitution,”
reads part of the letter.
According to the letter, the party members threatened that
failure by the party to address the problems raised, they would be forced to
approach the courts of law.
In response, MDC-T provincial chairperson Councillor Gift
Banda said the party will not respond to faceless petitions and complaints.
In a letter addressed to the lawyers, he claimed that the
issue of candidate selection was still ongoing saying it would only end on the
day of the Nomination Court.
He refuted claims that the party was violating its
constitution saying they had adhered to procedural efficiency in discharging
the party’s internal candidate selection process.
Clr Banda has been in the eye of a storm over the candidate
selection process in the province with party members accusing him of playing
kingmaker and imposing candidates aligned to him, which has seen some areas
either failing to hold the primary elections or the results being disputed.
Clr Banda is accused of using his position as the party’s
provincial chairman to ensure his cronies win the local government MDC-T
primary elections.
Party insiders said Clr Banda does not want strong
opponents to win the primary elections as they will be difficult for him to
control.
Clr Banda is seeking to represent the party as MP for
Njube-Lobengula constituency.
He is alleged to be sponsoring the party’s youths to cause
havoc in some of the party’s wards where results are being contested. Sunday
News
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