by Innocent Mujeri

The recent developments in the MDC-Alliance Bulawayo Province has left despondent party’s members who are accusing their national leaders of failing to deal with the factional crisis currently bedevilling that party, the Harare Post has learnt.

A contact within that party who spoke to this reporter revealed that there was low morale in the party at provincial level and this resulted in the recently held Bulawayo provincial executive committee meeting having a low turnout.

“We have a leadership crisis at national level. Our leaders are inconsistent in their policies and they don’t know the trajectory the party should take to move out of the current factional challenges. We are determined to fight the struggle, but the leadership seems to be clueless”, said the source.

He further hinted to this publication that the investigation report on the alleged abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa, which exonerated Tendai Masotsha from being linked to the CIO, widened factional fissures within the province. He added that the revelations did not reveal the true picture on the ground and it has left most members disillusioned.

Contact further revealed that plans are afoot to pass a vote of no confidence to the current Bulawayo Provincial Chairperson, James Sithole and his entire leadership team.

“The current provincial leadership has failed the province. They fanned factional fights based on tribalism, promoting one tribe at the expense of the other. I shall not dwell much into that. The entire national leadership failed to literally deal with the case implying that they were in support of one tribe dominating the other. We would rather have Matson Hlalo lead the province than Sithole who is divisive and immature”, lamented another source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The contact further said that the national leadership of that party are fighting personal political battles at the expense of the party.

“Our leaders are no longer putting effort in reviving the party. Instead, they are busy positing themselves and strategically position their cronies in influential positions in preparation for 2023 elections. Factionalism has killed the MDC Alliance and the leadership are not making any efforts to thwart this threat of factionalism before it becomes the undoing of the party,” added the source.

Factional fights have been rocking MDC-A Bulawayo Province, and the developments have since been escalated following the alleged abduction and torture of the party’s activists.

 Party members have been pointing fingers at each, with some provincial members being accused of working with the State Security agents. The MDC-A national leadership has not bothered itself to address the factional fights within the party which could lead to another split.