BULAWAYO mayor Thaba Moyo yesterday lost MDC-T primary elections for Ward 22 effectively bringing to an end his five-year stint at the helm of council. Moyo who last month indicated he will step down as mayor after the July 31 elections was beaten by Rodney Donavan Jele. Jele polled 69 votes against Moyo’s 57.
REPORT BY SILAS NKALA
Meanwhile, MDC-T postponed other outstanding primary elections in Bulawayo to today following the death of one of its councillors in the city. The party was due to hold primary elections for aspiring councillors and House of Assembly representatives yesterday. But it emerged yesterday the death of Ward 8 councillor Mackenzie Julius Sibanda on Thursday forced the MDC-T to defer the staging of primary elections until after his burial today. Sibanda (80), a councillor since 2008, died at the United Bulawayo Hospitals after he had been admitted on Wednesday complaining of breathing problems.
MDC-T Bulawayo organising secretary Albert Mhlanga confirmed the postponement, but added that primary elections will be conducted this afternoon after Sibanda’s burial.
“The burial of the councillor will be in the morning on Sunday (today) and then in the afternoon we will proceed to conduct the primary elections for MP and council candidates in outstanding wards and constituencies,” he said.
MDC-T primary elections for party cadres interested in representing it in Entumbane-Makhandeni constituency were inexplicably postponed last weekend. Journalist-turned-reverend Useni Sibanda will battle it out with Prince Dube.
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