Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. MDC Alliance sources have alleged that the party’s Secretary-General, Chalton Hwende is targeting the party’s senior members among them Job Sikhala and Thabita Khumalo whom he is said to have removed from WhatsApp groups.
The sources told The Standard that Hwende who works in cahoots with a group consisting of MDC Alliance organising secretary Amos Chibaya, deputy spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo, youth leader Obey Sithole, deputy secretary-general Happymore Chidziva, and Harare Central MP Murisi Zvizwai is frustrating the old guard in the hope that they leave the party.
The sources said Hwende’s group which is close to Chamisa, was targeting deputy national chairman Job Sikhala, vice-president Tendai Biti, treasurer-general David Holtart and national chairperson Thabita Khumalo. Said an anonymous top official:
It is true Hwende has been harassing other members in the standing committee meetings, including removing them from party Whatsapp groups.
But president Chamisa has done nothing to rein them in. There is a general feeling that he is the one sending Hwende to target other leaders.
It is surprising that the party can afford to have internal wars at a time it is facing a fierce war from Zanu PF and MDC-T.
At one time, Ruth Labode was harassed for suggesting that there was need to come up with a new name for the party.
Hwende told her to leave that issue to the president.
Meanwhile, Sikhala refused to respond to allegations that he was being targeted by Hwende’s group adding that his removal from the MDC Alliance WhatsApp groups was for security reasons. He said:
I was in prison and for security reasons, in case the state security agents took my phone, they had to remove me…
I am a member of more than a thousand groups and I don’t even care if I am removed from one group. I don’t have time to look at that
Khumalo, who was also removed from some MDC Alliance groups, refused to comment and referred questions to party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere.
More: The Standard; NewsDay
