Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Killian Sibanda is facing a possible revolt from fellow party members following the suspension of two senior provincial party activists last Sunday.
NDUDUZO TSHUMA
Sibanda reportedly suspended provincial secretary for finance Simon Khabo and secretary for transport and welfare Langelihle Mathe for alleged fraud and insubordination respectively.
But party insiders yesterday said the suspension of the two was not procedural as some members, who had to endorse the decision, were not present.
They said the interim youth executive whose top five members should have attended the meeting were not present as they had travelled to Bindura for party leader President Robert Mugabe’s birthday celebrations.
“The youths started leaving Bindura on Sunday morning and could not make it to the meeting,” a party insider said. “Some provincial members also did not attend the meeting, which makes the whole thing a farce.”
Indications were that provincial party members could pass “a vote of no confidence” on Sibanda as happened with his predecessor Isaac Dakamela.
“The suspension of the two was unprocedural. Sibanda rushed to write letters to the national leadership yet the proper procedure is to recommend the suspension to the provincial joint council and the matter would then be tabled in the provincial co-ordinating council,” the insider said.
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Party activists accused Sibanda of purging the two provincial members after Mathe clashed with him over the use of party vehicles, while Khabo is allegedly paying the price for contesting against him for the chairmanship.
“Sibanda is fixing Khabo for challenging him in the election for provincial chairperson last year,” another source said. “He wants to eliminate competition ahead of provincial elections in September. As for Mathe, the two have clashed on a number of occasions.
“The official chairperson’s vehicle was involved in an accident last year and till now it is not known where it is. Sibanda is using different vehicles from the party and at one point he clashed with Mathe over the alleged abuse by the chairperson of the women’s wing vehicle.”
But yesterday, Sibanda said he was not aware of plans to pass a vote of no confidence in him or allegations of failing to follow procedure in the suspension of the two members.
“I am not aware of all that. Maybe you should ask those who told you,” he said.
