By John Sigauke
Attempts to integrate alliance partners into the mainstream structures of the MDC Bulawayo Provincial Assembly have prompted sharp discord within the province, with factions within a faction emerging, The Harare Post reports.
The party’s national chairperson, Thabitha Khumalo, Bulawayo Provincial chairperson, James Sithole and the province’s secretary, Helen Zivire, have been accused of causing chaos within the province, particularly the provincial women’s assembly.
According to a report written by the provincial women’s assembly boss, Tendai Masotsha at the order of the party’s national women’s assembly chair, Paurina Mpariwa, the three are resisting the integration exercise.
“The trio recently disrupted a provincial council meeting which was meant to confirm alliance party members into the women assembly,” said a source.
In her strongly worded report, Masotsha gave out that a group of 40 women led by Zivire stormed the venue and demanded that the party’s leader, Nelson Chamisa must come to Bulawayo to address problems bedevilling the province before any integration is done.
According to the report in possession of this publication, the vicious mob demanded that former MDC-N members must not be co-opted as Masotsha had not consulted. They also reasoned that they could not be led by people who were not elected.
Masotsha charged that the women who disrupted the meeting were ferried by a car belonging to Khumalo. She implored the national executive to reprimand the national chair.
A source within the party said the fallout emanated from the integration of former MDC-N members who are being accused of belonging to a faction led by former provincial chair, Gift Banda.
Apparently the warring parties belong to a faction led by Sithole.
“Masotsha is now being accused of having been recruited by Banda to appoint his faction members to critical positions. The trio also accuses Masotsha of being in a love relationship with Chamisa and abusing that relationship to influence members to buy her integration mantra,” said a well place source.
Chamisa is said to have been infuriated by the sensational allegations. The source said an investigation team has been set up with a brief to nail Khumalo and subsequently expel or demote her.
