Why Moyo ditched Tsvangirai

FORMER MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairperson Gorden Moyo addressed his resignation letter to both "axed" secretary-general Tendai Biti and acting secretary-general Tapiwa Mashakada in a clear indication he is not taking sides in the party's infighting.

MDC-T is splitting into two after a bitter fallout between party leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Biti.

Biti and his renewal team say Tsvangirai has failed to topple President Robert Mugabe and should step down.

The former trade union leader is accused of nepotism, corruption, instigating violence against opponents and incompetence.

Moyo steered clear of the infighting by taking a sabbatical from MDC-T activities in March.

However, his decision to take a back seat sparked intense speculation that he sympathised with Biti's camp.

Moyo broke his silence on Friday announcing that he was resigning from the post of provincial chairperson, but would remain as Makokoba MP and MDC-T ordinary member.

His resignation letter obtained by Southern Eye yesterday shows that the former Bulawayo Agenda director was frustrated with the state of affairs in the MDC-T.

"Your good office is hereby advised through this letter that I have resigned from my position as the provincial chairperson of Bulawayo province," he wrote.

"This notification is in line with the provisions of the MDC constitution which require any person resigning from a leadership position to notify your esteemed office.

"The current dynamics in the province and in the party in general, which manifest themselves through violence, hate language, mudslinging matches, and the pursuit of parochial and personal interests, have made it impossible for me to fully execute my leadership responsibilities," he added.

"I remain committed to the founding values of the party and as an ordinary member, I will continue to fulfil my constitutional responsibilities as a Member of Parliament for Makokoba constituency," he added.

"For the avoidance of any doubt, this letter is directed to both honourable Tendai Biti and honourable Tapiwa Mashakada.

"And through this same letter the Bulawayo provincial executive stands advised."

Tsvangirai's newly-found ally Job Sikhala who joined MDC-T at the height of the infighting took to Facebook to express his disappointment at the turn of events.

"Gorden Moyo was in the same stream with me at the University of Zimbabwe and when some of us were busy conducting student activism he decided to work behind the scenes as a non-assuming character, but very solid in terms of clear ideas on how we could tackle the difficulties we were facing," Sikhala wrote.

"He is one man who liked me a lot during the period of our activism. I also loved and respected his cool (approach).

"Though I was an extreme radical, he would still tell me that leadership needed people like me who could not be taken for granted. When we formed the MDC he didn't want to be on the forefront."

Sikhala added: "He wanted to call shots from behind the scenes. Today when we are in the process of rejuvenating the people's struggle, he has again decided to go back to his territory. I really wanted to work with him in rejuvenating our project. Only God knows, but the struggle still needs Gorden Moyo."

Tsvangirai has rejected calls for him to step down and is likely to retain his post at a congress scheduled for sometime this year.