MDC secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga has refused to comment about calls by the party’s leaders in Matabeleland South for her to relinquish the National Assembly seat because she is not from the province.
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Misihairabwi-Mushonga has been under pressure from the party’s Matabeleland South leadership to relinquish the Umzingwane parliamentary seat she secured via proportional representation saying it should be rightfully occupied by provincial women’s assembly chairperson Elizabeth Ndlovu.
Ndlovu had initially been earmarked for the Umzingwane district National Assembly seat under the women’s quota system, but Misihairabwi-Mushonga was later chosen ahead of her, triggering tension in the party.
The secretary-general told Southern Eye yesterday she was not at liberty to discuss the matter.
“You guys, I am not commenting on that issue. Maybe others can,” Misihairabwi-Mushonga said curtly. Southern Eye is reliably informed some members of the MDC Bulawayo province have accused their disgruntled Matabeleland South counterparts of not being fully “in tune with party policies”.
“The noise coming from Matabeleland South is uncalled for,” a Bulawayo provincial member said.
“The secretary-general never forced her way into Parliament.
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“If the province was or is aware of party policies, they would not be making all this noise.
“It simply shows that it’s from people who are envious or having soar grapes.
“Our defeat came as a shock to all of us,” a provincial member said.
MDC was last month hit by the resignation of director of policy and research Qhubani Moyo amid reports the party’s poor performance during the July 31 elections had dented morale of its members.
Moyo resigned saying he was now focusing on academia amid swirling speculation that he had been lured to join Zanu PF.
A number of MDC members had been accusing Moyo of being in the party just for money, adding that his loyalty had always been questionable.
MDC secured only four seats — two in the Senate and two in the National Assembly — courtesy of the proportional representation system.
This was a far cry from the 10 House of Assembly and six Senate seats the party won in the 2008 polls.
