MDC-T will wrap up its inconclusive Bulawayo provincial executive elections on Friday ahead of the party’s national congress next week.
The party’s volatile province, which thrice failed to conclude its elections for the main, women and youth wings, is set to host the national congress running from April 29 to May 1 at Barbourfields Stadium.
Newly-elected provincial chairman, Gorden Moyo, who is also State Enterprises and Parastatals minister, said: “We should be able to wrap up everything that has been holding us back tomorrow (Friday).”
He confirmed that officials from the national executive council would oversee the elections though he denied party president, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, would superintend the process.
“According to the constitution of the MDC, officials from the national executive will oversee the elections. I have not heard that the Prime Minister will be coming down for the elections,” he said.
National party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa confirmed that the provincial elections would be finalised on Friday.
“They were supposed to be held today (Thursday) but were postponed to tomorrow (Friday). The rumours that the PM is coming down to Bulawayo to admonish supporters against violence are untrue.
“Violence has never been an issue in the MDC. Initially the elections did not run their course because of police interference and we also took a lot of time doing the accreditation. We have since worked on all that. The elections will be a continuation from last time, there is no starting afresh,” he said.
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Three weeks ago, the Bulawayo province held elections for the leadership of the main wing in which Moyo narrowly beat Matson Hlalo for the chairman’s post.
The elections were inconclusive as only the chairman, vice-chairman and the secretary-general were elected before violent youths disturbed the process.
The youths have appeared in court to answer to charges of public violence.
Hlalo has since challenged the outcome of the elections and has reportedly demanded a rerun.
Last weekend the party’s women’s league elections also failed to proceed beyond the secretary-general after the delegates raised complaints over what they alleged was abuse of election regulations.
The outgoing committee of the provincial women’s league has since written to party secretary-general Tendai Biti registering their displeasure over the way the elections were conducted.
