Tsvangirai-led faction hit by confusion

                                                   Tichaona Mugoni

Gweru-Confusion has reigned supreme in the Tsvangirai led faction over the fielding of candidates in the Midlands province.

Rival groups of the Tsvangirai faction are reported to have filed multiple nomination papers on Friday a situation that has resulted in the duplication of candidates for the same seat.

Drama ensued outside the Nomination Court in Gweru as two rival groups of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led faction of the MDC disagreed over fielding of candidates.

Gweru deputy mayor, Obert Ncube, who is the faction's provincial elections director, leads one group and has the support of mayor Sesil Zvidzai, Tsvangirai faction's secretary for local government.

Veteran politician Patrick Kombayi, who is the faction's provincial secretary, leads the other group.

The Ncube faction accuses Kombayi of wanting to usurp power in the provincial executive, while the rival group accuses Ncube dictatorial tendencies and handpicking of candidates.

Members of the two rival groups were almost at each other's throat when they exchanged harsh words outside the nomination court. 

The incident took place after Ncube's group had tried to bar their rival from filing nomination papers through their lawyer Tapera Sengweni. The barring order was sought on the basis that they could not be considered as authentic Tsvangirai faction members. Claims were that their papers had not been signed by the party secretary Tendai Biti.

ZEC officials later told Sengweni that the Commission would accept nomination papers from both groups for as long as they were in order after consulting the head office in Harare.

Sengweni is vying for the Redcliff house of assembly seat. The rival groups' separate filing of nomination papers for their preferred candidates has resulted in a situation where there are two or three candidates in each constituency claiming to represent the same party.

In the Gweru Urban Constituency, Rodrick Rutsvara and Josiah Makombe, both of the Tsvangirai faction, successfully filed their nomination papers. They will face Enos Saizi of the ruling Zanu PF party and Timothy Mukahlera of the Arthur Mutambara faction.

In the Chiwundura constituency, Gweru Mayor, Sesil Zvidzai, Silas Mutendeudzwa and Dunstan Chibvongodze, all of the Tsvangirai faction, also successfully filed their nomination papers. They will face Kizito Chivamba of Zanu PF and Renson Gasela of the Mutambara faction.

The situation was the same for council candidates, with each group fielding its own preferred candidate for council elections.

While there was apparent confusion in the Tsvangirai camp, the Mutambara faction and the ruling Zanu PF candidates filed their nomination papers without any differences.

However, two Zanu PF members who were reportedly sidelined during the party's primaries, filed their nomination papers as independents. The two, Dr Timothy Ndebele and Dr Frank Mbengo will contest the Zhombe and Shurugwi North constituencies respectively.

There are several other candidates who have registered as independents in various constituencies in the province and speculation is rife that they are aligned to Simba Makoni.