BULAWAYO MDC-T youths engaged in fierce running battles on Thursday at a meeting convened to suspend the province’s youth assembly chairperson Bekithemba Nyathi.
NQOBANI NDLOVU/JUNIOR MOYO
Nyathi, who is also the Mpopoma-Pelandaba MP, was suspended on Saturday on charges of abuse of office, misuse of youth funds and poor leadership skills.
Party insiders told Southern Eye that youths aligned to Nyathi on Thursday disrupted a provincial MDC-T youth assembly council meeting resulting in running battles as turmoil in the faction-riddled party continues to rear its ugly head.
Nyathi’s deputy, Thabile Mlilo, is now the acting provincial youth assembly chairperson.
Mlilo and her executive have since written to the MDC-T national youth executive and the leadership recommending the endorsement of Nyathi’s suspension pending a disciplinary hearing.
MDC-T national youth assembly spokesperson Clifford Hlatshwayo yesterday confirmed hearing reports of Nyathi’s suspension although he had not yet seen formal communication to that effect.
“We have heard the reports but they are yet to officially communicate their decision to us. Once we receive communication, we will meet as the youth league executive and national council and decide on what action to take,” Hlatshwayo said.
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However, Nyathi rubbished his suspension yesterday saying he was still the bona fide Bulawayo youth assembly chairperson. “It’s a non-event. I am not worried by those people who met under the influence of alcohol and decided to suspend me. I remain the Bulawayo youth assembly chairperson,” Nyathi said in a telephone interview.
“I was elected at a congress and will only be removed at the next congress. I will not be distracted and those that do not want to be led by me will remain behind as the youth league is forging ahead with its programmes.”
Recently, MDC-T national youth secretary-general Promise Mkhwananzi was suspended for allegedly bringing the party into disrepute as infighting stoked by calls for leadership renewal led by treasurer-general Elton Mangoma continued to see the culling of rebels.
