Welshman Ncube defends Misihairabwi-Mushonga in Matabeleland South

By Marvelous Moyo

GWANDA – MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube has defended the inclusion of the party’s secretary-general Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga in the list of women’s quota under proportional representation in Matabeleland South Province.

In an interview after the MDC Gwanda Central district assembly in Gwanda Town on Sunday, Prof Ncube said Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga had every right to contest in Matabeleland South as she originated from the province.

He said Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s name was also brought forward by the provincial assembly.

“The leadership decides who to deploy and where. For your own information, we don’t just deploy. We held a meeting with the provincial assembly and the secretary-general’s name was among that list contrary to all the rumour mongering that you got,” said Prof Ncube.

When pressed for further comment on the issue versus the party’s advocation for devolution of power, Prof Ncube fired back with questions expecting to get responses from this reporter.

“What makes you think that she is not from Matabeleland South? I am asking you. How do you say that she is not from this province when her entire family is in Umzingwane? You know her mother comes from Matabeleland South and that even Canaan Banana was her uncle and so how do you say she is not from Matabeleland South?” asked Prof Ncube.

Most MDC party members in Matabeleland South are bitter over the inclusion of Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga whom they said was not from the province but only her mother was from Matabeleland South.

Also present during the interview was the treasurer-general and the candidate for Gwanda North, Mr Paul Themba Nyathi, who is reported to have come up with Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s name.

Mr Nyathi also showed displeasure over the issue and only said “one person” whom he did not disclose, was against the inclusion of Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga. “How does a single person who goes to Chronicle become people who are not happy?” he asked.

The Nomination Court on Friday announced Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s name under Umzingwane as the first on the list of the women’s quota under proportional representation together with Sibekithemba Njani (also under Umzingwane), Elizabeth Ndlovu, Thokozile Sibanda, Hellenic Ncube and Thokozile Moyo.

However, MDC party members who spoke to this reporter after the Saturday meeting denied having included Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga on the list.

The party members said the move was just a strategy by the party leadership to prolong Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s “gloomy” political life after she suffered a dismal defeat in her constituency in the 2008 elections.

An official at the party’s provincial offices also confirmed that Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga’s name was not on the list and were shocked when the name was announced by the Nomination Court.

“We believe the name was added at our Bulawayo offices,” said the official.

However, contacted for comment, the party’s provincial chairperson Mr Petros Mukwena professed ignorance over the issue. “I am not aware of that. If there is anything like that it means it is a tragedy and disaster which has fallen this party in terms of principle,” he said.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga who was also present at the Gwanda meeting, maintained a low profile and later left after she was reported to be ill. The Chronicle