Misihairabwi-Mushonga survives MDC purge

THE MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube has reportedly made a climbdown on attempts to fire its proportional representation legislator Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga after the party failed to make a case against its former secretary-general.

The party's youth and women assemblies two weeks ago passed resolutions calling for the expulsion of Misihairabwi-Mushonga over allegations of influencing mass resignations by members of the troubled organisation to join other parties. This was after former Gwanda mayor Lionel De Necker and fellow national executive member Sibongile Mgijima resigned from the party a few weeks after former spokesperson Joshua Mhambi also left the party.

Party sources claim the fresh attempts to fire Misihairabwi-Mushonga stemmed from reports that the former deputy chairperson Frank Chamunorwa who quit the MDC in February attended the People's Democratic Party's recent congress.

Chamunorwa, whose truck was allegedly mobbed by party youths two weeks ago demanding that he hands back a vehicle he got from the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee, left the party in protest over allegations that he was part of a "gang of four" that rebelled against Ncube.

The other alleged members are Misihairabwi-Mushonga who in the same month resigned from her post as secretary-general, former spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube and former chairperson Goodrich Chimbaira who both later resigned from the party.

"We're convinced beyond doubt that Misihairabwi-Mushonga is the chief architect of disturbances in the party, including choreographed media resignations in recent months," said women's assembly chairperson Lindiwe Mlilo last week.

"We've watched for a while now, even been in a state of denial as our former hero has masterfully tried to destroy the party from within while doing all she can to strengthen our opponents."

The women's assembly resolution followed another by the youth wing calling for Misihairabwi-Mushonga's ouster.

MDC national spokesperson Kurauone Chiwayi last week said the party's presidency had requested that the chairperson of the council of elders Paul Themba Nyathi and secretary Esaph Mdlongwa hold consultations with the two wings and Misihairabwi-Mushonga and come up with a resolution and recommendations on the matter.