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| James Gumbi |
…another
provincial congress on cards
Upenyu Chaota
MASVINGO— MDC Alliance leader
Nelson Chamisa, who in March this year suspended the entire Masvingo provincial
executive for fanning factionalism, has relieved provincial chairperson James
Gumbi of his duties replacing him with former senator Misheck Marava on interim
basis.
Four
provincial executive members were summoned to Harare for a hearing and only
Gumbi was suspended.
Provincial
secretary for information Derrick Charamba, provincial secretary Erium Musendekwa
and provincial treasurer Innocent Munhazo were reportedly pardoned.
Gumbi,
a man of means who helped fund party programmes in the province, told TellZim
News he accepted the decision and will work with the new leadership.
“The
party is bigger than me and I was informed of the decision which I am going to
follow. The party knows best and if they make a decision you will be obliged to
follow.
“They
want the party to move forward and I will work with the new chair to push party
programmes,” said Gumbi.
MDC
Alliance will have a provincial executive meeting at its provincial offices
this Sunday, November 01, where Gumbi’s fate will be formally communicated to
structures.
A
senior MDC Alliance official who spoke to TellZim News on condition of
anonymity said Gumbi was found guilty of dividing the party in the province and
was suspended and another congress will be done once all the modalities have
been put in place.
Chamisa
presided over the chaotic Masvingo provincial congress last year and the Gumbi
faction stood tall, much to the disgruntlement of a rival faction led by Simon
Mupindu.
The win
by the Gumbi faction and the disqualification of Tongai Matutu from the race
left deep fissures in Masvingo province, prompting Chamisa to suspend the
provincial executive a few months later.
“Masvingo
province had become a big problem to the president (Chamisa). The congress was
chaotic and the president thought that the rift would heal and people would
move on together but the situation deteriorated.
“The
president decided to suspend the entire Gumbi executive pending disciplinary
hearing and the hearing was conducted. The National Executive Council (NEC)
decided to keep Gumbi suspended and replace him with Marava pending a
provincial congress,” he said.
MDC
Alliance national organizing secretary Amos Chibaya, however, sang a different
tune when TellZim News contacted him for a comment, saying Gumbi was not fired but
was rather promoted to the national executive.
“What
actually happened was a promotion. Gumbi is now in the national executive and
he will have more power than he had. The national executive has more power and
Gumbi will be serving from there,” said Chibaya.
On his
part, Marava said he was yet to get official communication on his new assignment.
“I
heard that the NEC assigned me to be the interim chairperson but I am yet to
get official communication. I think it will be addressed at the meeting we are
having this Sunday,” said Marava.
