Chaos mars MDC-T primaries June 18, 2013 in National, News, Politics CHEGUTU — Intra-party skirmishes rocked MDC-T primary elections in Chegutu East constituency after members of a rival faction confiscated and tore ballot papers at Musunami business centre over the weekend. Report by Own Correspondent The incident occurred as the party was conducting internal elections at three polling centres: Musunami, Hungwe and Dombwe business centres. According to aspiring MDC-T MP for Chegutu East Tawanda Bvumo, Ward 3 councillor Locardia Chaipa instigated a group of rowdy youths to forcibly open the vehicle belonging to the presiding officers deployed from Harare and took ballot papers before shredding them to pieces. “The incident was unfortunate, especially in light of the fact that it was incited by a councillor,” Bvumo said. Chaipa yesterday denied allegations of destroying the ballot papers although she admitted tampering with the vehicle that carried the documents. “Yes, there were irregularities in these elections and I have supporting evidence. Even if I were to be called for a hearing at Harvest House (MDC-T headquarters), I will testify opening the car, but I was not the one who took and tore the ballot papers. Some disgruntled youths did it,” Chaipa said. She accused Bvumo of harbouring a personal grudge against her. The presiding team had to return to Harare to collect “fresh” ballot papers and went ahead with polling under candle-light around 10pm at Dombwe in Musengezi. Results were collated and announced around 1am on Sunday, affirming Bvumo, who is also provincial treasurer, as the winner after amassing 262 votes against Rain Mutatabikwa’s 12 and Washington Chingiya, who got one vote. Meanwhile, there was near pandemonium at Chinhoyi Training Centre where some aspiring councillors were told at the last minute that they could not contest the primaries under dubious circumstances. These included journalist Dennis Kagonye and former deputy mayor Willie Nyambe. There was drama also after sitting ward 10 councillor Davies Zinduru polled a shocking two votes, paving the way for Ishmael Gawa, who got the ticket to represent the party in the area. Zinduru rose to infamy after allegedly abusing the Constituency Development Fund together with incumbent Chinhoyi MP Stewart Garadhi to sink a borehole at his residence. MDC-T Mashonaland West provincial organiser Wilson Makanyaire said the party would on Friday convene a meeting of winning and losing candidates in order to reunite them ahead of national harmonised elections expected soon. News Day
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:15:51 +0000
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