DIVISIONS in the MDC Alliance saw the party fielding two candidates yesterday at the Nomination Court for Bulawayo Ward 28 election set for March 30 after primary polls were shelved as some members ran away with ballot papers following skirmishes, a state run paper has reported.

Eighteen candidates successfully lodged their papers at the Nomination Court which sat at the council chambers, with Zanu-PF fielding one candidate Cde Kidwell Mujuru while the MDC Alliance fielded two candidates Alderman Collet Ndhlovu and Ms Nomagugu Mloyi.

Other candidates include Mejury Dube from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Gumpo Flora of MDC-T, Albert Mashayanyika of the National Constitutional Assembly, Polite Ncube of ZEFF, Nokuthula Ndlovu of Zapu, Nicholas Ngwenya of ZIPP, Nkosikhona Nyoni of MRP, Buhle Nzima of NPF and six independent candidates.

The seat fell vacant following the death in December last year of MDC Alliance councillor Happyson Ncube who had defeated Ald Ndlovu in primary polls before emerging victorious in the July 30 general elections.

On Thursday afternoon, MDC Alliance members are alleged to have been involved in skirmishes which resulted in some party members escaping with ballot papers making it impossible to hold the primary elections.

An official within the MDC Alliance yesterday said the chaos was just a snippet of what is to follow as the opposition party prepares for congress.

Advocate Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance is set to hold its congress this year to elect its new leaders.
MDC Alliance officials have reportedly started aligning themselves for positions ahead of the congress.State media