News / Local
Tsvangirai emulates Mugabe, issues social media ban
03 Jan 2017 at 00:40hrs | Views
OPPOSITION MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has emulated his rival
President Robert Mugabe in banning top party leadership from using
social media to discuss key party resolutions.
Tsvangirai is angry that some of his inner core are posting negative comments on the coalition direction the part was advancing.
Tsvangirai views that as tantamount to undermining the party.
According to reports, Tsvangirai has instructing members to refrain from 'abusing social media'.
MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed his boss stance.
"It is true and indeed has come to our attention that some leaders have taken to using social media to shoot down the national council's resolution" he is quoted saying.
"The point is these leaders were
part of the national standing committee, the national executive and
national council discussions that mandated the president of the party to
begin negotiations for a possible coalition,".
"We cannot, therefore, allow a situation where people turn against a decision of the majority. The MDC-T is a majoritarian party where the decisions of the majority take precedence and leaders have a duty to respect that even when they initially were against such decisions".
However, Mwonzora said members are not being gagged.
"No, absolutely not! But, we are saying leaders have an obligation to use whatever platforms including, social media, to explain policy decisions like the one on coalition".
In 2015, Tsvangirai backtracked on a directive barring party members from debating political issues on social media platforms after the order was widely condemned as undemocratic.
Tsvangirai adopted a hardline stance after he felt that the social media was being used to denigrate party leaders.
Last year, Mugabe spent much of his time warning Zanu PF members from abusing social media.
Tsvangirai is angry that some of his inner core are posting negative comments on the coalition direction the part was advancing.
Tsvangirai views that as tantamount to undermining the party.
According to reports, Tsvangirai has instructing members to refrain from 'abusing social media'.
MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed his boss stance.
"It is true and indeed has come to our attention that some leaders have taken to using social media to shoot down the national council's resolution" he is quoted saying.
"We cannot, therefore, allow a situation where people turn against a decision of the majority. The MDC-T is a majoritarian party where the decisions of the majority take precedence and leaders have a duty to respect that even when they initially were against such decisions".
However, Mwonzora said members are not being gagged.
"No, absolutely not! But, we are saying leaders have an obligation to use whatever platforms including, social media, to explain policy decisions like the one on coalition".
In 2015, Tsvangirai backtracked on a directive barring party members from debating political issues on social media platforms after the order was widely condemned as undemocratic.
Tsvangirai adopted a hardline stance after he felt that the social media was being used to denigrate party leaders.
Last year, Mugabe spent much of his time warning Zanu PF members from abusing social media.
Source - Byo24News
