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Mr Tsvangirai

Temba Dube Senior Reporter
PLACARD waving and slogan chanting MDC-T members yesterday revolted against the party’s decision to have a re-run of primary elections in Emakhandeni constituency. Ward 10 councillor, Prince Dube, won the right to represent the party in the National Assembly elections beating seven other candidates in primaries held last month.
However, in what party officials described as “shameless” rigging to install Reverend Useni Sibanda, the party announced that there would be a re-run in the constituency.

A high-powered delegation that included MDC-T legislator for Harare Central, Mr Murisi Zvizwayi and former spokesman for the party’s leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, Mr James Maridadi, left Emakhandeni Hall in a huff when angry supporters started chanting in protest against the re-run.

The atmosphere was tense when Mr Zvizwayi announced the purpose of his mission.
Scores of party members, some of whom started gathering outside the venue as early as 10 am for the 2pm meeting, shouted that democracy had become a myth in the MDC-T.

“Who is the complainant in this case? If anyone complained about the primary elections, they should be named and a procedure should be followed. As it is, no one in the wards and province knows who complained, including the winning candidate. We cannot have a re-run just for the sake of it,” said an angry supporter.

MDC-T Bulawayo organising secretary for women Ms Sanelisiwe Sibanda, who was among the candidates that lost to Clr Dube, warned the party that they would lose the seat to Zanu-PF if party leaders insisted on the “madness to have a re-run.”

“How can there be a re-run when all procedures were followed. If you want to lose this seat to Zanu-PF, continue with this madness. If you decide to have a re-run, let us do it quickly. However, everyone should know the reason why there should be one,” said Ms Sibanda.

One of the party members stood up and said there should be a re-run because there was massive rigging in the primaries as she had seen a number of voters going into Entumbane Hall through windows to illegally cast their vote.

Pandemonium ensued as other MDC-T members roundly condemned her.
“We know you were paid $5 to come here and lie. The windows at Entumbane Hall are too small and too high so one cannot use them to gain entry into the hall,” shouted one of the protesters.

Another weighed and said:” We know you want to impose Useni here and we will not have it. We would rather leave the party. We have chosen Dube and we do not want anyone else.”

Party youths began chanting the famous protest song into oyenzayo siyayizonda, as they approached the front where Mr Zvizwayi and his delegation were standing.

Sensing danger, the delegation abandoned its mission and quickly left the venue.
Party members produced placards denouncing Mr Tsvangirai and his deputy Ms Thokozani Khupe.

“Tsvangirai stop this mess. We have been infiltrated,” read one placard.
“Khupe, be careful the people’s will should not be opposed. Useni go back where you came from, we do not want you,” read another placard.
MDC-T youths began chanting uchayiona hondo yacho as they danced outside Emakhandeni Hall.

One of the youths said it was surprising that the party wanted a re-run in a constituency where the elections were peaceful, while keeping quiet where there had been open rigging.

“In Luveve, Reggie (Moyo) took the ballot boxes and drove into the city centre with them. Party members were later told he had won. In Pumula, Albert Mhlanga openly intimidated supporters of his opponents and in Lobengula, only one person did the counting to make Sipepa (Samuel Sipepa Nkomo) win. The party is silent on these but it wants to impose a re-run here,” said one of the youths.

Clr Dube polled 81 votes in the primaries.
He was followed by Mr Dingilizwe Tshuma with 78, Rev Useni Sibanda got 65 votes, 38 people voted for Mr Marko Phiri, 25 for a Mr Khumalo while Ms Sanelisiwe Sibanda got 14 and Mrs Fidelia Dube the wife of the late Cornelius Dube polled nine votes and Mr Victor Chinembiri five.

The MDC-T primaries have been riddled with factionalism, allegations of rigging and racism.