Political Reporter

….as factionalism escalates in MDC-A Bulawayo province

MDC Alliance factional fights have continued to rock Bulawayo Province with reports saying that the party held two separate anniversary celebrations last Saturday to commemorate the birth of the opposition movement some 22 years ago.

A source who spoke to this publication said that the MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa, ordered that all provinces should hold provincial anniversary celebrations to commemorate ‘the birth of the opposition movement some 22 years ago’.

However, factional fights in Bulawayo saw the celebrations being held at two separate venues, one at that party’s provincial offices and the other in Luveve suburbs.

“Last week the party held two separate anniversary celebrations due to factional fights within the party. The Welshaman Ncube/James Sithole faction held its celebrations in Luveve while the Thabitha Khumalo/Helen Zivira faction held its event at the party’s provincial offices. The leadership should resolve the differences within Bulawayo as these factional fights are threatening to tear the party apart,” said the source.

According to the source, during the celebrations, the Ncube/Sithole faction castigated the other faction labelling it a ‘rebel group meant to destroy the MDC Alliance from within’. The Sithole faction reiterated that they were a bonafide faction backed by the leaders and the constitution of that party.

The same source added that at their celebrations, the Khumalo/Zivira faction endorsed Matson Hlalo as the new Provincial Chairperson for Bulawayo. The faction castigated Sithole for being pro MDC T and said that the fact that they held their celebrations at the party offices was an indication that they were ready to take over the leadership of Bulawayo province.

The source added that the Khumalo /Zivira faction lamented the delay by the Lynnette Karenyi Kore led Commission of Inquiry to release its findings concerning the chaos in Bulawayo. The faction said that the delay had afforded Sithole an upper hand to deal with his rivals and cement his position as the Chairperson of Bulawayo province.

According to the source, the Khumalo/Zivira faction was currently handicapped as its leader Khumalo was not attending any factional meetings.

“Khumalo/Zivira faction is currently handicapped because Khumalo is playing truancy. She is not attending ay meetings or programs of the party. Without an active leader, the Khumalo/Zivira faction is likely to be crushed by that of Sithole,” added the source.

The same source revealed that the Khumalo/Zivira faction was composed of key members such as Swirthern Chiroodza, Gideon Shoko, Matson Hlalo, Sunny Phiri and the Bulawayo Constituency Coordinating Committee chairpersons. The Ncube /Sithole faction was being backed by Earnest Rafamoyo, Collet Ndlovu and Lilian Mlilo among other members.

Efforts to get a comment from Bulawayo provincial spokesperson, Chiroodza, were futile as his mobile phones were not reachable.