Tsvangirai devastated by graffiti

MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai's morale was reportedly shattered when he saw the graffiti at the Bulawayo provincial offices calling for his ouster.

Bulawayo provincial leaders allegedly led by vice president Thokozani Khupe had resolved to keep the issue from Tsvangirai.

Party insiders said the plan backfired when members cornered Tsvangirai at the rally MDC-T held at Stanley Square and demanded a meeting.

The members allegedly threatened to boycott the rally if Tsvangirai did not address them.

"He was forced to agree to a meeting and asked members to go to the provincial headquarters along 2nd Avenue," said an official.

The official said Tsvangirai was deflated when he saw the graffiti.

"He could not believe what he was seeing, he stood for some time staring at it looking at it as if he was in a trance. When the meeting finally started, he did not seem to have the strength to carry on," said a party member.

Tsvangirai was reportedly put through the wringer in the meeting that lasted less than 20 minutes as party members demanded answers to why Tsvangirai was not dealing decisively with the turmoil in the party.

"Amen Mpofu the former Bulawayo Deputy Member told him his problem was surrounding himself with bootlickers who never told him the truth. He said the feud that Tsvangirai was having with Tendai Biti the secretary general and Elton Mangoma the deputy-treasurer general was destroying the party as it would only result in Zanu-PF winning," said the member.

"Only two people were given the chance to speak and Tsvangirai said the discussion would be continued on another day. The graffiti and apparent anger of the members took the stuffing out of Tsvangirai. If he does not wake up from his slumber now, he never will," said the MDC-T member.

A lacklustre Tsvangirai went on to address the MDC-T rally at Lady Stanley Square in Bulawayo.

Contacted for comment, MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the meeting did not discuss the Mangoma feud.

The MDC-T house has been on fire since Mangoma challenged Tsvangirai to step down and pave the way for leadership renewal.

Mangoma and Biti who are alleged to be spearheading the calls for the former premier's ouster, were attacked by party youths outside Harvest House recently.


Biti's house was petrol bombed while Mangoma was suspended from MDC-T for allegedly putting the party's name into disrepute.

Biti immediately called a Press conference announcing that the suspension was null and void.

Since then, factions have formed, representing other side in the party, with violence being the order of the day.