Political Reporter
Under fire MDC Alliance Bulawayo Chairperson, James Sithole has bounced back, evidenced by the virtual meeting that he chaired yesterday, which was attended by members of both Thabitha Khumalo and Welshman Ncube-led factions.
According to a source, Sithole whose chairmanship is still hanging by the thread after he was accused of hobnobbing with the rival MDC-T party, confidently chaired the meeting and urged members to unite.
However, members of the rival faction, particularly the Provincial Youth Assembly chairperson, Tinashe Kambarami, accused Sithole of jumping the gun by calling a meeting when the Commission of Inquiry that investigated his suitability to remain as chairperson was yet to officially release its findings.
“Kambarami tried to stop the meeting saying that it was not properly constituted and he questioned the legality of Sithole chairing that meeting considering that he was still under probe for misconduct. Kambarami and other members of their faction wanted the meeting postponed until the release of the (Lynnette) Karenyi Kore-led Commission of Inquiry findings,” said the source.
However, when it was decided that the meeting should proceed, members of Khumalo’s faction such as Swirthern Chiroodza, Tinashe Kambarami and Tsepiso chose to remain mum throughout the meeting, leaving the likes of Charles Moyo, Raymond Gombedza, Phumulani Sibanda and Ernest Rafamoyo being the main participants.
According to the same source, the entire meeting was filled with tension and that Bulawayo was heading for disaster if the warring factions do not smoke a peace pipe soon.
“The truth is that Bulawayo is now divided into two distinct factions. The party cannot continue denying the existence of these factions. I pray that something would be done quickly to unite the two warring factions or else we will be humiliated by ZANU PF in 2023,” said the source.
The source added that Pastor Obert Manduna later urged all warring factions to smoke the peace pipe and put the interests of the party ahead of their selfish interests.
Bulawayo has become a problem child for the MDC Alliance and members are always at each other throats, trying to position themselves for power. In June this year, the provincial youth assembly led by Kambarami announced that they had suspended Sithole. However, the party later declared the move null and void.
The findings of the commission of inquiry that investigated the causes of factionalism in Bulawayo is yet to be officially released although there are reports that the commission had thrown Khumalo under the bus and absolved Sithole of any wrongdoing.
