Zimpapers Logo

Nduduzo Tshuma Senior Political Reporter
MDC-T Matabeleland North will on Sunday hold its provincial congress with members reportedly pushing for the ouster of Prince Madubeko Sibanda as provincial secretary due to his pending rape case.
Sibanda is accused of drugging and raping a 17-year-old school girl.

The revelations come following reports of potential chaos at the congress of the Bulawayo province to be held on Saturday with the troubled party divided along two factional lines.

Party insiders yesterday told Chronicle that Sibanda, who was part of the provincial interim committee led by Thembinkosi Sibindi following the dissolution of the executive led by Sengezo Tshabangu, had fallen out of favour with his colleagues.

Tshabangu is now with the MDC Renewal Team.

Information from the province indicates that all members of the interim committee had been nominated unopposed for substantive posts except Sibanda who faces a challenge from Mxolisi Ndlovu after members felt he was failing to work well with others.

Sibindi yesterday confirmed the weekend congress.

“The provincial assembly will meet to select representatives in the province and nominate members for the national executive and presidium,” he said.

“Most members from the interim executive have been elected unopposed but Sibanda has a challenge. The districts made the nominations so I do not know why they nominated the other candidates. It is up to them to say why.

“Maybe it could be the case in the courts. If you are a public figure and carry yourself in a certain way then people are bound to feel differently about you.”

Sources said Sibanda had fallen out with his colleagues largely due to arrogance.

“Besides the pending court case that some members feel affects the image of the party, Sibanda cannot work well with fellow party members,” a source said.

Sibanda fired back saying he was innocent until proven guilty and alleged it was Sibindi who was fighting him.

“First of all the case is a non-issue. For all those who are normal, they know that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

“In my circumstances, it is still the same,” he said.

Sibanda said most organisations, including political ones in the country, had members facing one allegation or another.

“I heard some time ago that there could be someone challenging me. What is prominent about my case is that the interim chairperson has taken it upon himself to go and campaign for that individual.

“He has been campaigning for that person, distributing pamphlets with his preferred candidates,” he said.

“On the matter of representation, there is no question as to who is a better candidate. I got backing from 10 out of 13 districts. Naive leaders have a tendency of fearing leaders whom they consider to be better than them.”

Sibanda said the election at the end of the day would be between himself and Sibindi “because that candidate is just a proxy and farm worker”.
“I know that the people of Matabeleland North are mature when it comes to issues of leadership,” he said.

The MDC-T will hold its national congress this month.