AT least 12 aspiring MDC-T councillors in Victoria Falls have accused their senior party officials of clandestinely withdrawing their application letters to block them from contesting in party primary elections.
By Nokuthaba Dlamini
The affected candidates, drawn from rural and urban wards, claimed they suspected that their CVs were withdrawn on false allegations that they were linked to ousted deputy-president, Thokozani Khupe’s faction.
Among the 12 affected aspiring candidates are Morgan Gaza Dube, Sidalubuhle Moyo ward 6, deputy mayor, Norris Nyathi, Trymore Mathuthu ward 11, Lungile Nyoni, Vusumuzi Sibanda all from ward 3 and Artwell Ncube from Chidobe ward.
“We are in a situation where the party wants to impose candidates,” said one of the aspiring candidates.
“This is necessitated by the grand plan by individuals to block locals from holding key positions in the local government and House of Assembly. There is a deliberate move by some immigrants to take control of Victoria Falls politically and economically.
They have already done the later and are now gunning for the former. In our party, they are sidelining and labelling those that are perceived to be a threat to their quest to retain or get influential positions.”
The disgruntled party cadres accused ward 6 councillor Ephias Mambume of pulling out their CVs.
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But, Mambume yesterday denied the allegations, saying “most of the people who are complaining are newcomers”.
The opposition party’s Matabeleland North chairperson, Betty Thwala said she had received the complaints, but was preparing for a meeting to discuss the matter at national level.
“People are being purged for standing for the truth and it is the same story with those aspiring candidates in Victoria Falls,” she said.
“Whenever a Ndebele makes an effort to correct an anomaly in the party, we are quickly labelled as dissidents or Gukurahundists and the plan is to remove everyone including myself and I am just waiting for that announcement.”
Thwala said the party risked splitting votes along tribal lines, considering that the province was one of its strongholds.
