News / Local
MDC-T pushes for Godern Moyo's ouster
23 Mar 2014 at 04:43hrs | Views
THE beleaguered MDC-T has been thrown into a fresh wave of controversy as it has emerged that a section of its Bulawayo provincial leadership is pushing for the ouster of the provincial chairperson, Mr Gorden Moyo, who has been accused of being aligned to the party's secretary general, Mr Tendai Biti's faction.
The Morgan Tsvangirai-led party has over the past few weeks been engulfed in controversy, which saw its supporters at one point beating up some of its senior officials and the subsequent suspension of its deputy treasurer general, Mr Elton Mangoma, after he insinuated the need for Mr Tsvangirai to step down from the helm of the party.
Over the past couple of weeks the party has been on a drive to purge any of its members that are believed to be associated with the Biti-Mangoma faction. First to be shown the door was Matabeleland South provincial chairperson Mr Watchy Sibanda. The Matabeleland North provincial executive led by chairperson Mr Sengezo Tshabangu was also disbanded for being alligned to the faction.
Last week Harare provincial members passed a vote of no confidence against its leadership led by Mr Paul Madzore, with party provincial spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu alleging that the vote of no confidence was necessitated by the lack of leadership qualities on the part of Mr Madzore.
The party's Bulawayo province has been thrown into turmoil after its chairperson, Mr Moyo, indicated that he was taking a sabbatical from party business. Coincidentally, the provincial chairperson's notice came just a few days before Mr Tsvangirai was set to visit the provincial structures.
"Bulawayo provincial members please note I will not be in the office between 10 March and 30 May 2014. As per our constitution Honourable Dorcas Sibanda shall handle all the matters requiring the chairman's attention," reads part of the message that was sent to all provincial executive members.
However, a clique of provincial members who are against Mr Moyo were reportedly pushing for a vote of no confidence against the provincial chairperson whom they accuse of fanning divisions in the province.
During a rally held in the city at Makokoba's Stanley Square last Saturday and addressed by Mr Tsvangirai, Mr Moyo's absence was conspicuous together with that of Luveve legislator Mr Reggie Moyo, who is also reportedly alligned to the Biti-Mangoma faction.
Impeccable party sources further revealed that although Mr Tsvangirai was desperate to keep Mr Moyo in his camp because of his connections in the civil society circles, he was reported to be now under immense pressure to decide on the fate of a number of senior members, including of Mr Moyo, who are known to be part of those calling for "leadership renewal'' within the party.
"The provincial chairperson has for sometime been suspected to be part of the Biti-Mangoma faction, where he was expected to wrestle the party's deputy president position from Ms Thokozani Khupe, therefore, his so-called sabbatical and his subsequent ‘boycott' of last week's rally are now being viewed as an open message to the party president that he is now no longer alligned to him.
"Tsvangirai on the other hand is desperately trying to quell the pending storm by insisting that Mr Moyo is untouchable despite all these signs of open defiance," said the source.
Contacted for comment the party's national spokesperson, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, refuted the claims saying as far as the party was concerned, Mr Moyo was on study leave and the factional fights in Bulawayo were just imaginary.
"The provincial chairperson's absence at that rally is nothing we can worry much about because he (Mr Moyo) had made it clear that he is on study leave and we were made aware of that and besides, not attending a rally is not much of an issue as it is not compulsory after all, Mr Moyo is and will always be a trusted cadre in the party.
"I should also emphasise that after Saturday's rally we are satisfied with the Bulawayo province and all these so-called factional fights are an imagination of certain sections of the media, that province is as united as ever," said Mr Mwonzora.
Ironically, despite Mr Mwonzora's assertion that the provincial chairperson is on study leave, Mr Moyo reportedly sent an email to some of his colleagues on 14 February 2014 informing them that he had successfully completed his Doctor of Philosophy studies at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
"Dear colleagues, I am pleased to let you know that I was officially awarded a Phd in African Leadership Development by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) after successfully defending my thesis this afternoon. I cherish your direct and indirect support to this academic attainment," reads the email.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Moyo were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable.
However, the acting chairperson, Ms Dorcas Sibanda had no kind words for this reporter, saying she could not respond to any rumours or assumptions.
"People are allowed to have their own views or analysis. I will not comment on that, actually you are disturbing me, I am busy," said the acting chairperson before hanging up her mobile phone.
Mr Moyo's political journey has been a controversial one as he was fast-tracked from being a civil society leader to becoming a cabinet minister when Mr Tsvangirai himself appointed him as the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office at the start of the inclusive government.
During the party's national congress in 2010, held in Bulawayo he was elected the provincial chairperson in a bloody election which was marred by violence between Moyo's and his rival Senator Matson Hlalo's supporters.
In the run-up to the 2013 harmonised elections he was once again in the eye of the storm when he was controversially imposed as the MDC-T House of Assembly candidate for Makokoba constituency, a position that was previously held by Ms Khupe.
According to the party's policy this constituency was meant to be reserved for women candidates.
A couple of weeks ago it was reported that Mr Moyo had now severed ties with his once close ally, the deputy president, Ms Khupe and had further sent emissaries to his former rival, Senator Hlalo, in a bid to gain his faction's support. Senator Hlalo also did not attend the Saturday rally.
The Morgan Tsvangirai-led party has over the past few weeks been engulfed in controversy, which saw its supporters at one point beating up some of its senior officials and the subsequent suspension of its deputy treasurer general, Mr Elton Mangoma, after he insinuated the need for Mr Tsvangirai to step down from the helm of the party.
Over the past couple of weeks the party has been on a drive to purge any of its members that are believed to be associated with the Biti-Mangoma faction. First to be shown the door was Matabeleland South provincial chairperson Mr Watchy Sibanda. The Matabeleland North provincial executive led by chairperson Mr Sengezo Tshabangu was also disbanded for being alligned to the faction.
Last week Harare provincial members passed a vote of no confidence against its leadership led by Mr Paul Madzore, with party provincial spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu alleging that the vote of no confidence was necessitated by the lack of leadership qualities on the part of Mr Madzore.
The party's Bulawayo province has been thrown into turmoil after its chairperson, Mr Moyo, indicated that he was taking a sabbatical from party business. Coincidentally, the provincial chairperson's notice came just a few days before Mr Tsvangirai was set to visit the provincial structures.
"Bulawayo provincial members please note I will not be in the office between 10 March and 30 May 2014. As per our constitution Honourable Dorcas Sibanda shall handle all the matters requiring the chairman's attention," reads part of the message that was sent to all provincial executive members.
However, a clique of provincial members who are against Mr Moyo were reportedly pushing for a vote of no confidence against the provincial chairperson whom they accuse of fanning divisions in the province.
During a rally held in the city at Makokoba's Stanley Square last Saturday and addressed by Mr Tsvangirai, Mr Moyo's absence was conspicuous together with that of Luveve legislator Mr Reggie Moyo, who is also reportedly alligned to the Biti-Mangoma faction.
Impeccable party sources further revealed that although Mr Tsvangirai was desperate to keep Mr Moyo in his camp because of his connections in the civil society circles, he was reported to be now under immense pressure to decide on the fate of a number of senior members, including of Mr Moyo, who are known to be part of those calling for "leadership renewal'' within the party.
"The provincial chairperson has for sometime been suspected to be part of the Biti-Mangoma faction, where he was expected to wrestle the party's deputy president position from Ms Thokozani Khupe, therefore, his so-called sabbatical and his subsequent ‘boycott' of last week's rally are now being viewed as an open message to the party president that he is now no longer alligned to him.
"Tsvangirai on the other hand is desperately trying to quell the pending storm by insisting that Mr Moyo is untouchable despite all these signs of open defiance," said the source.
Contacted for comment the party's national spokesperson, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, refuted the claims saying as far as the party was concerned, Mr Moyo was on study leave and the factional fights in Bulawayo were just imaginary.
"I should also emphasise that after Saturday's rally we are satisfied with the Bulawayo province and all these so-called factional fights are an imagination of certain sections of the media, that province is as united as ever," said Mr Mwonzora.
Ironically, despite Mr Mwonzora's assertion that the provincial chairperson is on study leave, Mr Moyo reportedly sent an email to some of his colleagues on 14 February 2014 informing them that he had successfully completed his Doctor of Philosophy studies at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
"Dear colleagues, I am pleased to let you know that I was officially awarded a Phd in African Leadership Development by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) after successfully defending my thesis this afternoon. I cherish your direct and indirect support to this academic attainment," reads the email.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Moyo were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable.
However, the acting chairperson, Ms Dorcas Sibanda had no kind words for this reporter, saying she could not respond to any rumours or assumptions.
"People are allowed to have their own views or analysis. I will not comment on that, actually you are disturbing me, I am busy," said the acting chairperson before hanging up her mobile phone.
Mr Moyo's political journey has been a controversial one as he was fast-tracked from being a civil society leader to becoming a cabinet minister when Mr Tsvangirai himself appointed him as the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office at the start of the inclusive government.
During the party's national congress in 2010, held in Bulawayo he was elected the provincial chairperson in a bloody election which was marred by violence between Moyo's and his rival Senator Matson Hlalo's supporters.
In the run-up to the 2013 harmonised elections he was once again in the eye of the storm when he was controversially imposed as the MDC-T House of Assembly candidate for Makokoba constituency, a position that was previously held by Ms Khupe.
According to the party's policy this constituency was meant to be reserved for women candidates.
A couple of weeks ago it was reported that Mr Moyo had now severed ties with his once close ally, the deputy president, Ms Khupe and had further sent emissaries to his former rival, Senator Hlalo, in a bid to gain his faction's support. Senator Hlalo also did not attend the Saturday rally.
Source - Sunday News
