MDC-T losing candidate for the Bulawayo province chairmanship, Matson Hlalo has accused the party’s deputy national organising secretary, Abednico Bhebhe of working in cahoots with Bulawayo Central MP Dorcas Sibanda in causing trouble in the on-going squabbles that have rocked the party.
Richard Muponde Senior Court Reporter
The MDC-T in Bulawayo is divided over the election of Deputy Mayor, Gift Banda last week to the chairmanship, ahead of Hlalo.
Stung by his defeat, Hlalo appealed to the party’s national organising committee before taking the matter to the High Court, seeking a review of the provincial congress proceedings.
He also filed an urgent chamber application on Tuesday seeking an order stopping Banda from assuming duties of the chairperson until his internal appeal has been heard and also after the High Court has concluded his application for review.
Justice Martin Makonese heard the urgent chamber application on Tuesday and reserved his judgement to today.
However of interest was how Hlalo portrayed Bhebhe and Sibanda in his appeal to the national leadership, which forms part of the his High Court application, in which he accused the deputy organising secretary of being a “hooligan” and being behind the setting up of parallel structures in Magwegwe constituency.
“Khupe emphasised that she did not require the help of hooligans and will therefore campaign on her own,” he wrote.
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“A few days later when Magwegwe rallied to restructure its district, (Simon) Mbhemu’s parallel list suddenly appeared.
“Deputy national organising secretary, Abednigo Bhebhe immediately sided with Mbhemu and pledged that he was going to work with the parallel structures.”
Hlalo said Bhebhe then claimed that the legitimate structures of the party, led by Tronix Nyamupingidza, were part of MDC Renewal. “He never produced any proof of his assertion,” Hlalo alleges.
“It must be noted that by not producing the required proof, Bhebhe‘s statements proved extremely divisive and defamatory.”
“On 15 September 2014, the national chairman, Lovemore Moyo and Abednigo Bhebhe met with the Bulawayo provincial executive and committee.
“Many wondered why Bhebhe who supports the faction once led by Gorden Moyo attended the provincial meeting.”
Hlalo claims Bhebhe is a hooligan, who was captured on video throwing stones at his supporters in 2011.
He also accused Sibanda of lying and surrounding herself with violent supporters and handlers.
“We appeal to your office to intervene in that fanning of factionalism, maladministration and disregard of the party’s 2014 congress template and constitution by Dorcas Sibanda, her group of often – times violent supporters and handlers who are perched swell in the upper echelons of the party,” he said.
