Political Reporter

...as rival faction bays for his blood

The MDC Alliance National Youth Assembly chairperson, Obey Tererai Sithole, has fled the country to save his life which was under threat from a rival faction within that party.

A source within that party confided in this publication that Sithole had to flee to Sweden after receiving threatening messages from people who were accusing him of dumping Nelson Chamisa’s faction to align with the Maruva cabal.

“Sithole has fled the country to Sweden in fear of his life which was under threat from people who wanted to harm him. The people who are after Sithole are members of our party who are accusing him of aligning himself with the Maruva cabal which is opposed to Chamisa’s leadership,” said the source.

The source added that Sithole initially tried to seek audience with Chamisa to determine where the threatening messages were coming from but Chamisa continued telling Sithole that he was too busy to meet with him.

According to the source, Sithole is not likely to return to the country soon as he was already looking for a job in Sweden.

“I don’t see Sithole coming back soon as he is likely to seek for employment in Sweden considering that he recently graduated with a Master of Science degree in Global Development in the same country,” added the source.

The source further said that the MDC Alliance was trying to cover up Sithole’s departure by saying that he has gone to Norway to seek medical attention as they do not want the factional wars to spill to the public.

The same source also revealed that Netsai Marowa who is facing charges of faking her abduction, together with Cecelia Chimbiri and Joanna Mamombe, has also fled the country. Marowa is also believed to have gone to one of the Scandinavian countries and her escape was facilitated by the MDC Alliance so that she will not be prosecuted for fake abduction charges.

The source said Sithole and Marowa would tell their host governments that that they were fleeing from state persecution. Sithole faces charges of criminal nuisance.  The tactic of feigning persecution was used by Zimbabweans in the early 2000 to get asylum in the West, especially the United Kingdom.

The MDC Alliance is embroiled in factional wars as members are battling for the control of that party ahead of 2023 plebiscite. Members from rival factions have reportedly resorted to intimidating and threatening tactics as they seek to consolidate their grip in the party.