Ncube, Mutambara issue no longer a legal issue but a political one

On Saturday the MDC-N president, Professor Welshman Ncube said the battle over the presidency of the party between him and Professor Arthur Mutambara that has spilled into the courts is no longer a legal issue but a political one.

The MDC leadership had a council meeting yesterday before a rally for the people of Makokoba where they deliberated on the battle over issues surrounding the presidency and the case involving some legislators who reportedly denounced their membership to join the Prof Mutambara-led MDC.

Addressing his party supporters at Stanley Hall in Makokoba, Prof Ncube said Prof Mutambara was being "unreasonable" by denying what he initially admitted - having lost the presidency at the party's congress in January.

He said Prof Mutambara was "contesting the obvious".

"Almost a year has passed since our congress in January and surprisingly those who are denying the outcome are those who were there," said Prof Ncube.

"You all know that there is no other leadership besides this one. Now, they were saying they are waiting for the High Court judgment for something they already knew. People are just contesting the obvious and this issue is not a legal case but simply political. This is elementary and as a party we will continue to fight because it has nothing to do with the law."

This follows the granting of an order by Prof Ncube's MDC by the High Court in Bulawayo interdicting Prof Mutambara from acting as the party president or as the principal.

However, Prof Mutambara has since appealed to the Supreme Court arguing that the judgment only affected his position as president and not as the principal in the inclusive Government.

Prof Ncube said the fate of the legislators who were alleged to have left the party to rally behind Prof Mutambara would be known after they testify for themselves before the disciplinary committee.

The five legislators are Umzingwane Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ms Nomalanga Mzilikazi Khumalo, Maxwell Dube (Tsholotsho South), Thandeko Zinti Mkandla (Gwanda North), Senators Kembo Dube (Umzingwane) and Dalumuzi Khumalo of Lupane.

Prof Ncube said his party was not in a hurry to fire them because they had not officially announced their decision.

"We talked about that as national council and our decision was that we are not going to comment on things we read in the Press. Our responsible department will ask them if it is true that they have diverted," said Prof Ncube after the rally.

"I am talking about those who swore an oath of allegiance, we want them to talk on their own."

Prof Ncube urged his supporters to brace for elections, saying there was a lot of "mess" in the country that needed people to be tough.

He said the party had promised  to be in power come the next congress.

"Let us congratulate ourselves because we have come to the end of the year. This is an opportunity to wish you a merry Christmas but we have to take stock of ourselves everyday and ask what we have done for the party," said Prof Ncube.
Prof Ncube castigated Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the other faction of the MDC, saying he had no guts to lead the country.

Prof Ncube said PM Tsvangirai was always complaining about people talking about him, exposing his weaknesses as a leader.

"When Tsvangirai was in Plumtree, he complained to people saying 'Ncube is always talking about me, can he leave me alone'. Usuyethukeni, wesabani?

"If as a leader, you sacrificed to lead the people of Zimbabwe you should know we have the right to examine you. What kind of a man would always talk about others and when he is pinched a bit complains? If you (Tsvangirai) want to be president we will talk about you until you leave the stage and if you do not want that then go to Locardia and sit down."

Prof Ncube bragged that other political parties and leaders feared his party because it had plans for the future of the country in terms of resuscitating industry, reviving the education sector, health institutions, roads and electricity supplies.

His deputy, Mr Edwin Mushoriwa, claimed that his party was the most peaceful party in the country.

He called for free Press where presidents of all political parties would be a given a platform to table and debate their manifestos before next year's elections.