The opposition MDC-T has blocked plans by secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora to fill the party’s 2014 structures with his loyalists ahead of the party extraordinary congress next weekend.
Reports claim that Mwonzora was trying to manipulate the 2014 structures and rope in his loyalists to form the Electoral College and increase his votes through “gap-filling” in Chitungwiza, Harare, Mashonaland East Mashonaland Central and Manicaland provinces.
However, sensing danger, the party’s interim president Thokozani Khupe reportedly ordered that there will be no gap filling and threatened to suspend provinces that conduct the exercise.
A notice by Tapiwa Mashakada, the acting party spokesperson, released after a caucus meeting read in part:
This memo serves to advise all provinces that the national secretary for elections is now in the process of compiling the first Electoral College which is going to be validated by the relevant party structures and organs.
Linked to the process, please be advised that No GAP filling or replacements should be done.
For the avoidance of doubt, those delegates who have left, died, resigned or joined other political parties shall not be replaced. Please be guided accordingly.
Mwonzora denied the allegations that he was trying to manipulate the electoral college saying his opponents had become jittery after sensing defeat.