By Tendai Matunhu
MDC Alliance Deputy President, Professor Welshman Ncube has been lambasted for trying to elbow out minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde July Moyo from intervening to resolve the circus at City Hall.
Bulawayo City Council has been rocked by tribalism which has threatened to split the MDC
“We never learn. Less than two years ago, some among us were busy cheering and ululating the unconstitutional overthrow of the Mugabe regime and fantasizing that his storm troopers would usher in a new era of democracy and economic prosperity and here we are witnessing Bulawayo repeat same mistake.
“Today a strange coalition of seemingly well-meaning residents and organisations are once again cheering and urging July Moyo to do a coup against an elected council and install an unelected Commission just because we have been offended by the actions of a tiny minority of the councillors,” he said.
He went on to say, “Whatever are the mistakes we have made as MDC or as councillors, they are all capable of correction and ratification by us within the democratic ethos without inviting a coup government to do a coup against an elected council. How I wish we could learn the lessons of history.”
Professor Ncube’s tweets attracted backlash from netizens who lambasted him and the MDC leadership for incompetency.
One netizen, Tembi Ndlovu tweeted, “Professor, wena we can’t take you serious anymore whatever you say. I have never seen an opposition so pathetic, docile and timid. Even in Parliament, I have never seen or heard any of your Members of Parliament introduce bills to help people. In the meantime, you are just chilling in your offices waiting for 2023.”
Another concerned netizen, Ntate Mdluli responded, “That's what you get for causing chaos and taking Bulawayo citizens for granted. They are tired of your party's imposition and childish deliriums.”
Tapuwa Dhliwayo also said, “Why not sacrifice the errant councillors. Politics is about trade-offs. ZANU PF will be happy to go for by- elections in 2-3 wards than you sacrificing an entire whole council. Where is the strategic thinking here? Or you are waiting for instructions from Harare?”
Khonzalithinimabuza castigated Ncube for taking Bulawayo citizens for granted saying that “you may say this now people were crying and crying and there was no solution. MDC was taking people for a ride, you guys don't care about the people of Bulawayo but just our votes. You don't know how to read the mood, when people complained you thought it was only Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) yet for your own.
“The community of Bulawayo were angry and boiling over the conduct of councillors. People will vote for ZANU PF if it means saving the interests of the region. Joshua Malinga was ZANU PF but fought for Matebeleland, these are the people we want in MDC. We are disgusted by their conduct (MDC councillors), anything to save our city from vultures is welcome.”
Anold Tinoda Mupfawi tweeted saying, “Bulawayo people have declared that they now want ZANU PF to take control of everything. I know how you're feeling about their decision after the Cowdry Park incident (ZANU PF won resoundingly in the by-election).”
The issue of tribalism continue to hit the MDC run councils. Apparently, Deputy Mayor, Tinashe Kambarami, and Ward 4 councillor Silas Chigora a few weeks ago, were violently ejected from office over tribal issues.
