By Takunda Chimwaka

Factional tensions in the MDC Bulawayo Women’s Assembly has reached alarming levels amid the party’s efforts to integrate the two warring tribal factions in the province, Harare Post has learnt.

A party insider, who preferred anonymity, revealed to this publication that, following the party leadership’s directive, members of the former MDC Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Gift Banda faction were yesterday incorporated into the Women’s Assembly Provincial management committee, a move which frustrated some members of the leading MDC Bulawayo provincial chairperson, James Sithole led faction.

“The Banda faction members lost the provincial elections, and have been making noise over the provincial congress results, saying that Bulawayo cannot be led by the Shona people.

“The party is neither for Shona nor Ndebele, and l do not know why Chamisa is handling the Banda faction members with kid gloves. They claimed that the elections were rigged and they threatened to sabotage the provincial programmes and join Khupe. Now they are grabbing positions we worked for. Should we also threaten to leave the party?” lamented the source.

MDC Bulawayo province has been marred by tribal factional squabbles dating back to the party’s provincial elective congress held in April 2019.

The Shona dominance in the provincial structure invited a lot of factional spats with the minority Ndebele tribe members who felt threatened and over dominated in their region of origin.