Devastating fall-out rocks MDC-T

According to Friday reports by  Financial Gazette, a potentially devastating fallout has emerged in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) less than a week after its third congress in Bulawayo as it emerged that some losing candidates are accusing their rivals of running foul campaigns.

Those who spoke to The Financial Gazette accused Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's allies of using dirty tactics to undermine their bid for positions in the party, as well as engaging in vote buying and whipping delegates into line to vote for people reportedly endorsed by the party president.

The revelations come amid allegations that the MDC-T leader deliberately failed to address the issue of factionalism in Masvingo to enable members from his faction in that province to take up provincial leadership positions.

Candidates from Masvingo who were vying for top posts included Lucia Matibenga, who was eyeing the position of national chairperson; Tongai Matutu, who contested for the party spokesperson position; and Elias Mudzuri who was seeking re-election as organising secretary.

All three lost their bid with Matutu losing to Douglas Mwonzora. Matibenga could not match Lovemore Moyo while Mudzuri was seen as the biggest casualty after failing to garner enough votes against Nelson Chamisa, who hails from Masvingo, but is largely seen as belonging to the Harare province.

The loss left the province, which Matutu said went to the congress divided, with no representative at the highest party level.

Matutu and Matibenga are alleged to belong to secretary-general Tendai Biti's faction, which has the backing of Mudzuri's sympathisers.

Sources told The Financial Gazette this week that Tsvangirai's camp schemed to ensure positions went to those aligned to it, a move that has infuriated other members who accuse the MDC-T leader of turning the party into a personal project.

The congress, in which Tsvangirai stood unopposed, saw 10 out of the 13 previous national standing committee members bouncing back. The majority of those re-elected were described by Tsvangirai's loyalists as "team yamudhara" or literally Tsvangirai's team.

The only three newcomers are party spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, deputy organising secretary Abedinigo Bhebhe and Solomon Madzore, the youth assembly chairperson.

Bhebhe was part of MDC members that split and joined Welshman Ncube's other MDC formation, but was brought back by Tsvangirai after helping in the election of the party's candidate for the Speaker of Parliament, Lovemore Moyo.

Some disgruntled members are threatening unspecified action if the top three ' Tsvangirai, deputy president, Thokozani Khupe, and national chairperson, Moyo ' failed to deal with their grievances and ensure that there was democracy in the party.

The members fear the current shortcomings could spill over into the selection of candidates in the forthcoming national elections; the top leadership could impose candidates, they alleged.

They said some candidates linked to Tsvangirai's camp openly campaigned at the venue just before the election, but were not rebuked by the party leader.

Tsvangirai warned his party members at the youth and women's congresses, in separate addresses just before the main congress, that he would not tolerate candidates who denigrated others and used money to buy votes.

Fliers from various candidates carrying different messages were plastered all over Barbourfields Stadium, the congress venue, on the eve of the main event.

Matutu, who lost to Mwonzora, said the issue of factions was threatening the party and the objectives of the movement would soon be lost if the issue is not resolved as a matter of urgency.

"I lost to someone who could deliver and I accept that. But what happened in Masvingo and other provinces does not show the values that we say we stand for ' democracy.

"Yes, people were whipped to vote in a certain fashion and there was de-campaigning amongst ourselves," said Matutu.

Sources said there was a grand plot to ensure Tsvangirai remained surrounded by people perceived to be loyal to him.

"The move to have Chamisa contest against Mudzuri was well calculated. Mudzuri was seen as a threat to the party's leadership," said the MDC-T official.

Mwonzora, the MDC-T spokesperson, acknowledged that there were attempts by certain individuals to whip delegates to vote in a particular manner.

"The whipping; on the very first day (of the congress) the president (Tsvangirai) spoke against that and he made it clear there was no list of preferred candidates and if anyone was found peddling such a list he or she would be dealt with," said Mwonzora.

"It is usual that some people wanted to align themselves with candidates that are popular by coming up with a list and including their names on that list so that they look as if they are the favoured candidates, but so far as I know, no one has made any complaint to the party about the voting which I think was free and fair because, as you might be aware, it was not conducted by the MDC-T, but by independent members from the civic society."

The congress, which was also attended by Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, also saw Morgan Komichi being elected deputy national chairperson, Tapiwa Mashakada, deputy secretary-general and Roy Bennett, treasurer-general, to be deputised by Elton Mangoma.