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'uTsvangirai yinkosi yami - Tsvangirai is my king'

by Staff reporter
16 Mar 2014 at 16:02hrs | Views
MDC-T Women's assembly chairperson Mrs Theresa Makone, national youth spokesperson Mr Clifford Hlatshwayo and Bulawayo South legislator Mr Eddie Cross pledged their support for Tsvangirai during the rally with Mr Cross describing Mr Tsvangirai as "his king".
"uTsvangirai yinkosi yami (Tsvangirai is my king)," said Mr Cross in SiNdebele. 
Mrs Makone said Mr Biti and Mr Mangoma "will be nothing in six months" and alleged that the two were trying to seek leadership change through the media, particularly through The Herald and Chronicle.
Another legislator, Dr Ruth Labode, said: "UTsvangirai uzabusa ngenkani (Tsvangirai will rule by force).
Mr Biti, suspended deputy treasurer general Mr Elton Mangoma, Bulawayo provincial chairperson Gorden Moyo and national youth chairperson Solomon Madzore who are suspected to be leading the chorus for Tsvangirai's ouster, were conspicuous by their absence at yesterday's rally.
Some of the party officials chastised Mr Biti, Mr Mangoma and Mr Madzore through sloganeering as they desperately tried to show their full commitment to the party's embattled leader in apparent fear of being purged.
The venue of the rally, Stanley Square, was also suspicious, Mr Tsvangirai usually addresses supporters at the large White City Stadium.
Party official after party official yesterday declared their support for Mr Tsvangirai before they introduced themselves to the crowd that attended the rally.
Speaking at the rally, Mr Tsvangirai called on civil society and labour organisations that deserted his party during the run-up to the 2013 general elections to restore their support for the opposition party.
He said: "We travelled together with civil society in our struggle. Now I say to civil society, let us get back together and return to the basics of 1999 when we formed this movement. The spirit of 1999 is the spirit of purpose and we should rejuvenate that." 
The MDC-T leader's paraded defectors from other political parties who have joined his party.
Among some of the defectors who were paraded were were MDC's Mr Edward Mkhosi, Mr Siyabonga Malandu and former Gweru mayor Mr Tedious Chimombe who contested as an independent candidate in the previous elections.
Parading the defectors, Mr Tsvangirai said: "As MDC we must accept our comrades when they come back to the party. There are some among us who might feel threatened by the return of these comrades to the party. I urge you to accept them. We don't want a spirit of violence here. Hanzi nhingi mudenga nhingi pasi, that should stop."
Yesterday's rally also saw former MDC 99 president Mr Job Sikhala, who rejoined MDC-T last week, making his first public appearance.
Addressing the crowd, Mr Sikhala admitted that MDC-T lost last year's presidential election as a result of the party's naivety, contrary to the party's belief that the election results were rigged.
"This is the time personal egos are put aside and we put the people's interests first. We lost the previous elections on the basis of our naivety. We ignored the fact that the struggle was bigger than individuals. I have come back to the party now and I pledge my full commitment," he said.
The MDC-T also exhibited its desperation for political relevance when the party's National Organising Secretary, Mr Nelson Chamisa showed party supporter Zanu-PF regalia which he claimed had been surrendered by Zanu-PF supporters who had defected to the MDC-T.
However, Mr Chamisa did not invite the said defectors to the stage, raising questions on the authenticity of his claim.

Source - Sunday News
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