Attempts to suspend MDC-T's Gorden Moyo widens differences

An attempt to suspend mainstream MDC Bulawayo provincial chairman Gorden Moyo has widened cleavages in the local leadership.

Officials have distanced themselves from utterances by acting Bulawayo chairperson Dorcas Sibanda that Pumula MP Albert Mhlanga was fanning divisions in his unilateral attempt to dethrone Moyo.

Mhlanga, who is also the Bulawayo provincial organising secretary, had claimed party leader Morgan Tsvangirai had given the green light to suspend Moyo.

But the MDC president has since distanced himself from the statement arguing he could not be seen opposing his deputy Thokozani Khupe over the issue since they share the same office.

This was after party vice president Khupe had reportedly plucked off the agenda the idea to suspend Moyo during a provincial executive committee held recently.

In response to Mhlanga's statements, Sibanda said her colleague in Parliament should be advised on his boundaries and protocol in the party, adding that it was the highest level of indiscipline.

In a sign of on-going unrest in the party, acting provincial spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza told the Daily News soon after the party's organising provincial committee meeting held at the party offices on Monday that they were concerned over members who continue to wash dirty party linen in public.

"The MDC Bulawayo province acting chairperson has over stepped her mandate," Chirowodza said.

"She would be better advised by the provincial executive committee to which she reports. Party cadres are advised to refrain from washing the party's linen in public."

He said the standing rule is that the province will only communicate to the press what the provincial executive committee has resolved.

"As such, Sibanda's statements have been clutched from thin air and do not have the sanction from the party provincial executive committee," Chirowodza added.

Sibanda was not reachable for comment yesterday.

Mhlanga is one of the few known senior provincial members who are vying for the provincial chairmanship post in the event the bid to oust Moyo is successful.

Sibanda, who is acting in Moyo's place, is also gunning for the same post in a move that is likely to create further divisions in the already fractured movement.

Moyo, the MP for Makokoba is suspected of sympathising with the so-called renewal team led by former party secretary-general Tendai Biti, but his apparent inactivity in both camps has made it difficult to judge his affiliation.

A petition to force the provincial executive committee to consider suspending Moyo is still doing rounds in the city where district leadership structures and ordinary party members are being mobilised to take part.

But party president Tsvangirai has indicated that there is no action that can be taken on Moyo regarding the factional battles since he is on leave and he was not part of the team that attended the Mandel Training Centre for the so-called National Council meeting.