INTRA-PARTY violence reared its ugly head on Sunday during
a crunch MDC Alliance district meeting in Shurugwi meant to suspend party
cadres who stood as independent candidates during the July 30 polls when rival
youths exchanged blows and harsh words.
The emotive indaba, which was held at Mukandapi Shopping
Centre, was chaired by MDC Alliance’s Midlands South deputy provincial
chairperson, Cleopas Shiri.
Chief on the firing line was businessperson Daniel Mabonga,
who stood as an independent candidate for the Shurugwi South parliamentary
seat. Ocead Mutunami, from the then Welshman Ncube-led MDC, had been seconded
by the provincial leadership to stand on the alliance ticket, leaving out
Mabonga from the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC who seemed the front runner.
Mabonga, however, won the support of the entire district
executive together with other top leaders from across wards and other party
structures totalling about 250, who are now also in the firing line. These
included Shurugwi South district chairperson Norman Pfeveni, his deputy Todd
Zvidza, organising secretary Usefu Nheredzi, vice organising secretary Stephen
Jerera and district women assembly chairperson Thembekile Bhebhe.
The leadership of the party in ward 11, where Mabonga hails
from, was also meant to be axed alongside the entire youths, women and main
wing structures.
Violence broke out after party youths, who supported the
position to have top leaders fired lost patience with Shiri who seemed to be
delaying announcement of the suspensions.
Youths who stood with Mabonga, on the other hand, accused
Shiri of provoking them by bringing to the meeting individuals they blamed for
the divisions in the party.
District chairperson Pfeveni told Southern Eye that the
provincial executive leadership had caused chaos, leading to emergence of
independent candidates in Shurugwi South.
“The violence which occurred was caused by people whom we
do not even know in the party, but who just came to support suspensions of top
leadership. How can you say you want to suspend the whole district executive
and structures in wards if you have the party at heart?
People were angry because it became clear Zanu PF implants
want to destroy the party,” he said.
“The reason why we supported Mabonga is because president
Nelson Chamisa himself told us he was the candidate at a meeting we held before
a rally at Tongogara. However, the provincial leadership then brought us a new
person we did not know in the area, saying he was going to stand for the party
from the Welshman Ncube side, so we rejected him.”
Mabonga, who was not at the meeting, told Southern Eye that
the intended suspensions were more to do with the forthcoming MDC Alliance
congress scheduled for next year and threatened to sue the party if the
suspensions went ahead.
“Chamisa must be very careful. These people who want to do
the purges are interested in positions at the next congress, including his, and
so they want to do away with delegates at grassroots level who do not support
their agendas,” he said.
Mabonga said he had poured thousands of dollars into the
party and had initiated projects to help improve the livelihoods of people in
Shurugwi South.
“That is why people are standing by me. If Chamisa agrees
to these suspensions, that will kill the party in Shurugwi South and give his
enemies ammunition to destroy him at congress. Even on election day, all MDC
Alliance agents and officials used resources I sourced and so it shows that I
have the party at heart,” he said.
“I even built an office for the party and spent thousands
on MDC Alliance regalia, not talking of vehicles I dedicated for the work of
the party or upkeep of party officers at the Gweru office, among other
sacrifices. Now this is the treatment I am supposed to get. I might sue the
party if the suspensions go ahead because I feel used.”
Shiri, however, insisted that the suspensions were in line
with a National Council resolution of MDC Alliance and urged those aggrieved to
appeal on the basis of evidence. Newsday
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