FRESH divisions have emerged within Zanu PF Bulawayo province over the recently held election for the substantive chairperson won by Killian Sibanda with some contestants claiming the polls were fraught with irregularities. Report by Nduduzo Tshuma Staff Reporter
Sibanda, who was acting chairperson following the suspension of Isaac Dakamela in April, got 808 votes in the weekend election. He beat four other candidates — Simon Max Khabo, who got 732 votes, Dakamela 557, Mkhululi Dube (297) and Dzingai Kamamba (131).
The losing candidates reportedly convened at the party’s Davies Hall provincial headquarters on Monday evening in a meeting chaired by politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu to register their grievances.
Some of the officials reportedly called for the nullification of the election results citing incidents of violence and closure of polling stations before time.
“The losing candidates met at Davies Hall to register their concerns at the way the elections were conducted,” a source said.
“They alleged that some of their supporters were barred from voting under unclear circumstances while others were even beaten up.
“At some polling stations like Richmond, it is alleged that the stations were closed early and many supporters failed to vote.
“It was also said that one of the officials from the national commissariat sprung from his seat in jubilation after Sibanda’s victory was announced leading to many doubting his impartiality.”
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The insiders said the development had already divided the central committee and politburo members.
“Some of the contestants called for the province to write a letter to the national commissariat to nullify the elections and start afresh,” said a party insider.
“This has divided party elders who are torn between the candidates.”
Contacted for comment, Ndlovu yesterday denied that a recommendation to nullify the elections was made at the meeting. But he admitted presiding over a post-mortem of the elections, saying it was meant to ensure the province learnt from its experiences in the future.
“After an election like any other elections, there is a post-mortem and analysis,” he said. “A post-mortem is an ongoing process to learn from some of our mistakes so that we perfect ourselves in future. I permitted the conducting of a post-mortem as an ongoing process so that we are informed and correct our mistakes. I do not know about the nullification of the elections.”
Zanu PF Bulawayo province has of late been rocked by problems that resulted in a number of false starts in the election of a substantive provincial chairperson.
The province also failed to accredit its delegates for the Zanu PF conference in the Midlands province on time due to internal fights.
