News / Local
Mwonzora battling various plots to topple him
07 Feb 2021 at 03:09hrs | Views
MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora is battling various plots to topple him, barely two months after he was elected to the helm of the party.
Mwonzora beat then interim MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe in controversial elections last December and is already under pressure from some members of the party who accuse him of stealing money ahead of the polls.
He came face-to-face with his detractors at a national council meeting held virtually yesterday where motions were raised for investigations into the alleged missing party funds.
Officials behind the motions wanted those implicated in the alleged looting of MDC-T funds to temporarily step down until an audit is carried out.
They also suggested that the national council must cooperate with police investigations into the alleged theft.
United States and United Kingdom branches also raised motions seeking the December congress that elected Mwonzora to be annulled on the grounds that it had no quorum.
The motions, however, failed after Mwonzora's backers prevailed against those aligned to Khupe.
mDC-T spokesperson witness Dube, in a statement released after the meeting, said it was agreed that the audit into the party's finances must be expedited.
"The party affirmed its position that same should be concluded without any further delay," Dube said.
On the eve of the meeting MDC-T member Beaular Mburundu had written to police commissioner-general Godwin Matanga demanding Mwonzora's arrest over the $6 million that allegedly went missing.
Mburundu, from Mutoko, said a criminal complaint was lodged by another party member, Patson Murimoga, against Mwonzora at Harare Central Police Station under case number 2236/12/2020, but police were reluctant to act.
"Regardless of damaging evidence availed to the investigating officers, nothing was done to effect arrest of the accused and no explanation is forthcoming why the accused remains uncharged to this day," Mburundu said in her letter dated February 4.
"Like many Zimbabweans, i am concerned about the failure of the ZRP to charge Douglas Mwonzora and it is my humble view that the ZRP must charge Mr Mwonzora or show cause why they cannot."
Meanwhile, the MDC-T readmitted its organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe, who was expelled for claiming that Mwonzora wanted to rig the election.
"National council considered and resolved to re-admit everyone who has expressed desire to re-join the party," Dube said,
"Notably, former national organising secretary Abednego Bhebhe, and former deputy chairperson of Bulawayo province Dorcas Sibanda were duly readmitted into the party as per their expression of interest."
Mwonzora beat then interim MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe in controversial elections last December and is already under pressure from some members of the party who accuse him of stealing money ahead of the polls.
He came face-to-face with his detractors at a national council meeting held virtually yesterday where motions were raised for investigations into the alleged missing party funds.
Officials behind the motions wanted those implicated in the alleged looting of MDC-T funds to temporarily step down until an audit is carried out.
They also suggested that the national council must cooperate with police investigations into the alleged theft.
United States and United Kingdom branches also raised motions seeking the December congress that elected Mwonzora to be annulled on the grounds that it had no quorum.
The motions, however, failed after Mwonzora's backers prevailed against those aligned to Khupe.
mDC-T spokesperson witness Dube, in a statement released after the meeting, said it was agreed that the audit into the party's finances must be expedited.
"The party affirmed its position that same should be concluded without any further delay," Dube said.
On the eve of the meeting MDC-T member Beaular Mburundu had written to police commissioner-general Godwin Matanga demanding Mwonzora's arrest over the $6 million that allegedly went missing.
Mburundu, from Mutoko, said a criminal complaint was lodged by another party member, Patson Murimoga, against Mwonzora at Harare Central Police Station under case number 2236/12/2020, but police were reluctant to act.
"Regardless of damaging evidence availed to the investigating officers, nothing was done to effect arrest of the accused and no explanation is forthcoming why the accused remains uncharged to this day," Mburundu said in her letter dated February 4.
"Like many Zimbabweans, i am concerned about the failure of the ZRP to charge Douglas Mwonzora and it is my humble view that the ZRP must charge Mr Mwonzora or show cause why they cannot."
Meanwhile, the MDC-T readmitted its organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe, who was expelled for claiming that Mwonzora wanted to rig the election.
"National council considered and resolved to re-admit everyone who has expressed desire to re-join the party," Dube said,
"Notably, former national organising secretary Abednego Bhebhe, and former deputy chairperson of Bulawayo province Dorcas Sibanda were duly readmitted into the party as per their expression of interest."
Source - the standard
