….Terrified Kore distances self from chaotic poll
Moses Ziyambi
Apparently terrified by the rowdy
behavior of party members who quarreled over how the party should run the selection
of five people who will represent Masvingo in the party’s national executive,
MDC vice president, Lynette Karenyi-Kore has distanced herself from the
elections she was supposed to be presiding over.
behavior of party members who quarreled over how the party should run the selection
of five people who will represent Masvingo in the party’s national executive,
MDC vice president, Lynette Karenyi-Kore has distanced herself from the
elections she was supposed to be presiding over.
Kore and her delegation arrived
at MDC Masvingo provincial headquarters at 32 Mukwa St, Rhodene, a while ago
amid hostilities from rival camps fighting to control the accreditation
exercise.
at MDC Masvingo provincial headquarters at 32 Mukwa St, Rhodene, a while ago
amid hostilities from rival camps fighting to control the accreditation
exercise.
The short interregnum of courtesy
that the fighting camps gave Kore upon her arrival did not last long as the
hostilities flared yet again, forcing her to retreat into party offices where
she remained locked up with senior members of the provincial executive.
that the fighting camps gave Kore upon her arrival did not last long as the
hostilities flared yet again, forcing her to retreat into party offices where
she remained locked up with senior members of the provincial executive.
It was again not long before catapults
were pulled, punches were exchanged and bricks were thrown as disgruntled party
members accused provincial chairperson James Gumbi of trying to rig the poll in
favour of his acolytes.
were pulled, punches were exchanged and bricks were thrown as disgruntled party
members accused provincial chairperson James Gumbi of trying to rig the poll in
favour of his acolytes.
When contacted for comment on her
phone, Kore, who was still holed up in the offices, said she was not
responsible for running the show even though she came from Harare specifically
for that task.
phone, Kore, who was still holed up in the offices, said she was not
responsible for running the show even though she came from Harare specifically
for that task.
“No, I am not going to be
responsible for the accreditation exercise. Please talk to our provincial spokesperson
for more details,” said Kore.
responsible for the accreditation exercise. Please talk to our provincial spokesperson
for more details,” said Kore.
Provincial spokesperson, Derrick
Charamba gave a curt response when contacted for comment, trying to feign
normalcy.
Charamba gave a curt response when contacted for comment, trying to feign
normalcy.
“The presiding officer is our VP
Kore and she is here. What disagreements are you talking about?” said Charamba.
Kore and she is here. What disagreements are you talking about?” said Charamba.
Moments later, however, it was
announced that the proceedings had been cancelled.
announced that the proceedings had been cancelled.
A party youth who spoke to TellZim News said Kore was terrified of the violence and had chosen not to take sides with the factions.
“She read the mood and decided not to take over the accreditation exercise which was already being run by one of the camps as a way of maintaining a measure of neutrality. This was a new low for us as a party. How could we fight in front of our VP and disrespect her like that?” said the female party member.
[Read earlier story here https://tellzim.com/2019/06/violence-at-mdc-masvingo-provincial.html ]
