Chegutu West MP Takalani Matibe (MDC-T) and district chairperson Ernest Mudimu, who were leading two factions fighting for control of the constituency, have reportedly been censured against fuelling divisions in the party ranks or face unspecified action.
MDC-T Mashonaland West provincial organising secretary Wilson Makanyaire yesterday confirmed he recently led a team that was mandated to resolve the long-standing dispute that threatened to tear apart party structures in Chegutu.
“The party moved in to stem factionalism that rocked Chegutu West,” said Makanyaire.
“I led a team that was dispatched to the constituency to resolve the problem which we managed to do successfully. You can as well confirm this with MP Matibe himself and Mudimu. Something was done to resolve the issues.
Matibe also said: “I am personally happy with the outcome of the frank meeting we had with the provincial organising team as it enabled us to establish and iron out the sticking points that sparked clashes between myself and the district chairman. We were told to mind our turf and mandates as MP and chairman respectively.”
The MP and Mudimu were locked in a bitter leadership wrangle with Matibe, accusing Mudimu of harbouring ambitions to take over as MP for the area.
Mudimu had allegedly unleashed “rowdy mercenary” youths to scuttle Matibe’s development programmes in order to discredit the MP ahead of impending primary elections. Matibe also alleged the district chairperson was causing divisions among the electorate.
Squabbling within MDC-T Chegutu West district reached fever pitch just before the party’s elective congress last year, forcing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to bar Chegutu and Chinhoyi from sending representatives to the congress.
