Former Gweru MDC-T MP Timothy Mkahlera has bounced back into the party’s national executive after he narrowly beat National Healing minister Sekai Holland in elections held in the city yesterday to replace the late Midlands South representative, Mufandaedza Hove.
MDC-T national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa, who presided over the elections said Mkahlera garnered 257 votes against Holland’s 251 while the third contestant Luckson Mugari got a single vote.
Chamisa said there was a minor incident when police came into the venue of the elections but were told to stay outside by the MDC-T leadership.
Hove, a prominent academic and MDC-T secretary for economic affairs, collapsed at a rally which was being addressed by party President Morgan Tsvangirai and later died at a private hospital last year.
Said Chamisa: “We were electing a leader to lead the people and replace Dr Hove who died last year. Hove was our economic affairs secretary and national representative for the province. Holland got 251 votes while Mkahlera got 257.”
Mkahlera, a Gweru businessman and first MDC MP for the area in 2000, defected to the Welshman Ncube-led faction when the party split in 2005.
He, however, later rejoined the Morgan Tsvangirai-led party and became an ordinary card-carrying member in 2007.
Said Mkahlera: “It was a tight contest but was free and fair and I will work together with the people to make sure the MDC remains united.”
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Chamisa described the election as a reflection of maturity and democracy in the party.
However, sources said the election was tense as most MPs and senior members in Gweru supported Holland but ordinary party members backed Mkahlera who they said identified with the ordinary people.
