Khupe, Sibanda under fire

Politics
MDC-T vice-president Thokozani Khupe and the party’s acting Bulawayo provincial chairperson Dorcas Sibanda have been accused of adopting violence in their push to impose the city’s deputy mayor Gift Banda as substantive provincial chair in violation of the party’s regulations.

MDC-T vice-president Thokozani Khupe and the party’s acting Bulawayo provincial chairperson Dorcas Sibanda have been accused of adopting violence in their push to impose the city’s deputy mayor Gift Banda as substantive provincial chair in violation of the party’s regulations.

SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER

According to the MDC-T, one has to have served the party for five years to be eligible to contest for a senior position, a requirement Banda falls short of.

A senior MDC-T official yesterday accused Khupe and Sibanda of collapsing party structures in the wards so that they could impose Banda.

“Ward 13 currently has no structures due to Khupe and Sibanda’s meddling in their bid to impose Banda as provincial chairperson ahead of senior party members,” the official said.

“Banda has no base; he is being parachuted by Khupe and Sibanda in the same manner they imposed (former chair Gorden) Moyo.

“Khupe and Sibanda have caused serious problems for us.

“Last time they brought Moyo and our structures in Ward 13 were not created and now they are bringing Banda by trying to sideline people who have been in the party for long.”

The official said they only got to know Banda in the run-up to the July 2013 elections after he was fast tracked as a council candidate.

“Khupe and Sibanda are using violent youths in the imposition of leadership to consolidate their positions in leadership,” he said.

“Many leaders from branch, district and provincial levels have been imposed by the two.”

However, Sibanda rubbished the claims as unfounded saying it was hogwash to talk about imposition of candidates even before the provincial congress was held.

“For people to involve Khupe in the imposition of provincial leadership or congress is misplaced,” she said.

“Even to talk about me imposing candidates in Ward 13 is misplaced. I do not know candidates in Ward 13.

“How can they talk about the imposition of candidates when we have not even had any elections? We will conduct the elections in Bulawayo on October 4.

“People will do what they want. I do not have the power to impose leaders.

“Even if I had the money, could I buy all the people to vote for the candidates I want?

“It is not possible. If I had the money I would use it to support my children than to do that.”

She defended Khupe at length saying people should not involve her in the provincial congress issues as she would only be an observer.

“Accusing Khupe of manipulating a provincial congress that has not been held will not work,” Sibanda said.

“We respect the people and will accord them a chance to choose whoever they want.

“Khupe will only be an observer and people will only meet her at the national congress in Harare.”