By NQOBANI NDLOVU
MDC Bulawayo spokesperson Felix Magalela Sibanda has become one of the first party officials to throw his hat into the ring to contest for the vice-presidency at the May congress.
Sibanda, who is former legislator for Magwegwe constituency (2008-2013) and a member of the MDC national council, on Tuesday appealed to the party’s provincial structures to nominate him for the post.
The party’s VP posts are currently occupied by Morgen Komichi, Elias Mudzuri and Welshman Ncube.
Mudzuri is reportedly eyeing the presidency, while Komichi and Ncube have openly declared support for party leader Nelson Chamisa to retain the presidency.
Ncube was quoted inthe State media yesterday, saying challenging Chamisa was “political miscalculation”, while also frowning upon individuals such as Sibanda who were seeking nominations from provincial structures, saying instead, the process must be vice-versa.
Sibanda, however, said he deserved the post by virtue of being a “prisoner of conscience several times and fought numerous battles before the formation of the MDC, in 1999”.
“I have been in the struggle for a long time now. Since 1965 when I was a student at Gloag Ranch Mission in Matabeleland North, Bubi district. I continue to feel strong in this just struggle for the total liberation and freedom of our people,” Sibanda said in his appeal for nomination.
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“This, therefore, guides me to inform and seek your much-needed blessings and guidance as I seek to be nominated for national vice-president post at the forthcoming MDC congress.”
The former legislator is also current deputy national chairperson in charge of discipline in the MDC Veterans Association — a grouping representing founding members of the party.
Sibanda added: “I am kindly and humbly seeking your public support and dedication for this audacious journey. I write this bearing the fact that we have walked this journey and are going to continue working together for the good of our party and country in order to save Zimbabwe which is reeling under the junta.”
