A storm is brewing between ZAPU and MDC-T over the use of the Large City Hall in Bulawayo this weekend, with the former accusing the city fathers of favouritism.

The clash over the Large City Hall erupted after ZAPU reportedly had its booking to use the facility for its conference cancelled and the hall offered to the MDC-T to hold a memorial service for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s late wife Susan, on Saturday.

ZAPU wanted to use the hall on Saturday and Sunday.

Sources said council offered the venue to the MDC-T for free while ZAPU was prepared to pay.

However, the Mayor, Councillor Thaba Moyo, denied that the hall was offered to MDC-T at no cost.

ZAPU spokesman Mr Smile Dube yesterday fired a broadside at the city fathers for giving preference to the MDC-T instead of his party, which had booked the hall earlier.

He said an official from ZAPU responsible for logistics entered into an agreement with the city council for the use of the Large City Hall.

“When our official went back to the city council to make payment, he was told that the booking had been cancelled without notice. What is bothering us is that we had initially agreed over the use of the Large City Hall,” said Mr Dube.

“The city council told us that the hall had been taken up by the MDC-T for the memorial service of Mrs Tsvangirai. While we don’t have anything against the memorial service, what we wanted was for justice to prevail. We had agreed with council that we were going to use the hall and the cancellation leaves a lot to be desired.

“Fairness should be beyond political parties and we want council to note that,” said Mr Dube.

He lambasted the city council for turning the Large City Hall into an MDC-T hall.

“The City Hall is for the people and not for a certain political party or an individual. If we had agreed on the city hall why shifting goal posts, it’s not fair. We are not complaining but we want justice and fairness to prevail,” noted Mr Dube.

The Mayor reacted angrily, saying ZAPU must provide evidence that they first booked the city hall.

“I’m not aware that ZAPU were the first to book the hall. They must provide evidence. What I know is that the MDC-T asked to use the hall and their application was considered by a committee, which has no political bias towards any political formation,” he said.

Clr Moyo said if ZAPU had a problem, the party should register their concern with the local authority.

In response, the MDC-T deputy spokesperson and Bulawayo East Member of the House of Assembly, Ms Thabitha Khumalo, ruled out any favouritism by council, saying the party applied for the use of the Large City Hall following proper channels.

“It’s not about favouritism whatsoever. What we know is that anyone who wants to use the hall will just walk into council offices and make a booking. ZAPU’s claims are not true,” she said.

Ms Khumalo said the memorial service was not even organised by the MDC-T but by the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe since Mrs Tsvangirai was a member of that congregation.

(Source)