News / National
Eddie will carry his Cross
22 Oct 2017 at 08:43hrs | Views
Senior MDC-T official Mr Eddie Cross insists his boss, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, could quit politics because of ill health, adding he does not fear reprisals from those angry at him for speaking candidly about the leadership question dogging the opposition party.
Speaking exclusively to The Sunday Mail last week, Mr Cross said Mr Tsvangirai's family wanted him to give up on his thus far unsuccessful bid for the Republican Presidency and instead concentrate on treatment.
Mr Tsvangirai was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, and has been undergoing chemotherapy, mainly in South Africa.
There are reports of intense jostling to take over from Mr Tsvangirai ahead of national elections scheduled for 2018.
A few weeks ago Mr Cross said Mr Tsvangirai was struggling with treatment and was possibly unfit to stand in elections.
Last week he reiterated his position desipte the looming threat of disciplinary action from the opposition party.
Disclosing that he too was undergoing cancer treatment, Mr Cross said: "I still maintain what I said. There are medical bills (to prove it). Mr Tsvangirai's health issues are a concern; we are all concerned . . .
"But it's his choice at the end of the day. But if he can pull through, he will pull through. I have cancer of the prostate myself, and that has not affected my political career in any way."
Regarding possible disciplinary action against him, Mr Cross said: "I have had no contact from MDC-T in the last week. I am a servant of the MDC and whatever decision will be reached, I will comply with it."
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu would not say what course of action was being taken against Mr Cross, who is the party's Bulawayo South National Assembly representative.
"There are processes that we have to go through. But we will not reveal to the media what it is that we are going to do. What you have heard are rumours, and if we start considering them, we dignify them," said Mr Gutu.
MDC-T secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora added: "Our candidate is Mr Morgan Tsvangirai. There is no debate about that. He has not been encouraged to step down by anyone."
Last month, Mr Tsvangirai was flown to South Africa after he took a turn for the worse while in Kadoma, thereafter taking leave from official opposition party duties.
Speaking exclusively to The Sunday Mail last week, Mr Cross said Mr Tsvangirai's family wanted him to give up on his thus far unsuccessful bid for the Republican Presidency and instead concentrate on treatment.
Mr Tsvangirai was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, and has been undergoing chemotherapy, mainly in South Africa.
There are reports of intense jostling to take over from Mr Tsvangirai ahead of national elections scheduled for 2018.
A few weeks ago Mr Cross said Mr Tsvangirai was struggling with treatment and was possibly unfit to stand in elections.
Last week he reiterated his position desipte the looming threat of disciplinary action from the opposition party.
Disclosing that he too was undergoing cancer treatment, Mr Cross said: "I still maintain what I said. There are medical bills (to prove it). Mr Tsvangirai's health issues are a concern; we are all concerned . . .
"But it's his choice at the end of the day. But if he can pull through, he will pull through. I have cancer of the prostate myself, and that has not affected my political career in any way."
Regarding possible disciplinary action against him, Mr Cross said: "I have had no contact from MDC-T in the last week. I am a servant of the MDC and whatever decision will be reached, I will comply with it."
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu would not say what course of action was being taken against Mr Cross, who is the party's Bulawayo South National Assembly representative.
"There are processes that we have to go through. But we will not reveal to the media what it is that we are going to do. What you have heard are rumours, and if we start considering them, we dignify them," said Mr Gutu.
MDC-T secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora added: "Our candidate is Mr Morgan Tsvangirai. There is no debate about that. He has not been encouraged to step down by anyone."
Last month, Mr Tsvangirai was flown to South Africa after he took a turn for the worse while in Kadoma, thereafter taking leave from official opposition party duties.
Source - zimpapers
