Battle for Byo East turns ugly

July 17, 2013

Southern Eye

By Nduduzo Tshuma

17 July 2013

Outgoing Bulawayo East MP Thabitha Khumalo has been accused of insulting Education minister David Coltart’s campaign team as campaigns for the July 31 harmonised elections hit the home stretch.

Coltart, the former Kumalo senator, is standing on an MDC ticket. According to a member of Coltart’s campaign team, they met Khumalo in the constituency on Monday where she showed them a middle finger.
“We were putting up flyers in the constituency yesterday (Monday) and Khumalo passed us with her team.

“As she passed, she raised a middle finger towards us,” the member of Coltart’s team who requested to remain anonymous said.

“We later learnt that she had gone to Woodville where she and her team removed Coltart’s posters and replaced them with hers.”

When contacted for comment, Khumalo told Southern Eye that Coltart’s team was panicking because she was giving them, “a good run for their money”.

“Yesterday, I was putting posters along Airport Road and I turned into Woodville and put up more in Machikichori.

“I only saw Coltar’s team in Mahatshula and I never insulted them,” Khumalo said.

“Their greatest challenge is that I am giving them a run for their money. I have many things to do and I do not have time to be pulling down their posters and replacing them with mine.”

Khumalo said she and her campaign team “have painted the ground red. “We are making serious inroads and now some people want to get attention by claiming that I am sabotaging their campaign,” she added.

Khumalo later called Southern Eye and said: “I have been driving from Mahatshula to Suburbs and I have not seen a single Coltart poster.
“I do not know how I can be accused of pulling down something that is not there.

“The only posters I saw besides mine are those of Sulumani (Chimbetu) and a few for Zanu PF candidates and an independent.”

Khumalo challenged Coltart’s team to report her to the authorities if their allegations were true. Coltart said he could not comment on the matter as he had been busy with his ministry’s activities.