STAFF WRITER
FACTIONALISM is threatening to tear apart the MDC Alliance structures in Bulawayo as power struggles continue unabated.
The divisions have largely been caused by internal power struggles, tribalism and suspicions that some of the party members including provincial chair James Sithole are linked to the Douglas Mwonzora led party.
The clashes have seen nine out of 12 party Bulawayo’s Constituency Coordinating Committee (CCC) chairpersons, recently signing a petition advocating for the expulsion of Sithole as the provincial chair.
This was after recalled Senator and provincial organising secretary Helen Tsepiso Mpofu had written a letter dated May 12 suspending Sithole on allegations of his links with the MDC-T and not attending party meetings.
The move however, back fired as Sithole who is the Member of Parliament for Makokoba countered the move by suspending Mpofu on allegations of misconduct on the basis that she at some point cancelled a party’s provincial elections directorate meeting without following due process.
However, both suspension letters were put on ice last Saturday during a heated provincial executive meeting which was chaired by provincial secretary general Earnest Rafamoyo.
Contacted for comment Sithole refused to comment. However, provincial spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza professed ignorance over the fights.
“These tales are told to distract us from our real mission.”
Meanwhile, the party’s provincial chaplains division led by cleric Obert Manduna appealed for unity between the warring parties.
“Calvary and revolutionary greetings MDC Alliance Bulawayo province leadership. I hope, trust and pray that I find you all in good spirits. It is my humble request that we exhibit a sense of togetherness, oneness and unity of purposes as we are one family under the banner of our brand, visionary and torch bearer pastor Nelson Chamisa. I kindly request that leaders bury the hatchet in whatever personal or political differences they might have and pull in the same direction as change enablers,” reads in part the letter addressed to provincial party leadership.
