News / National
MDC-T members lobby for Tsvangirai's resignation
11 Aug 2013 at 07:59hrs | Views
DESPITE being handed his third defeat at the hands of Robert Mugabe in last week's election, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he will not step down from the helm of the party to pave way for a fresh pair of hands," The Financial Gazette can report.
MDC-T insiders revealed this week that the former trade unionist was facing tough questions within his party over his leadership after he was routed by President Mugabe for the third time in elections that also saw his party losing control of the parliamentary majority gained in the 2008 polls.
In fact, insiders said the party faces an implosion following its disputed election defeat, amid indications of a push for a special congress to replace some top figures for sleeping on duty. The MDC-T's next congress was due next year. Others warned of an open rebellion against Tsvangirai for blocking those who won Parliamentary seats from going into Parliament.
In 2005, Tsvangirai triggered the MDC split after he imposed a decision on the party not to participate in Senatorial elections, resulting in the emergence of the anti-Senate faction that he led and the pro-Senate faction that was led by the late Gibson Sibanda and Welshman Ncube, now the MDC leader.
A stunned MDC-T has refused to accept the election results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission citing irregularities in the run-up to the poll as evidence that "victory" was yet again stolen from it by ZANU-PF.
The MDC-T points to the unavailability of the voters' roll, the high number of assisted voters and lack of political reform ahead of the elections among other things as factors that rendered the results of the July 31 poll a "huge farce" and "null and void".
The party on Friday challenges the poll results in court and the case is set to be heard on Wednesday. Tsvangirai also said his party is taking up the issue with both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union, which observed the country's elections.
The latest defeat to ZANU-PF could split the MDC-T. There are those who feel that Tsvangirai has played his part, and should step aside at the next congress if not earlier to allow a younger leader to take-over.
This school of thought believes that after failing to dislodge President Mugabe on three occasions, the MDC-T leader has run out of ideas, hence the need to pass the baton to someone who could bring in new ways of doing things.
Emboldening this view is the perception that the electorate could have ditched the MDC-T because of the gaffes committed by Tsvangirai during the lifespan of the inclusive government.
The MDC-T leader has been embroiled in sex scandals and has prevaricated on crucial issues, which portrayed him as indecisive.
"This defeat calls for an extraordinary congress. We need to redefine ourselves. If in ZANU-PF people like Christopher Mushohwe can go back to Mutare to reconnect with the people, there is need for some people to go back and mix and mingle with the people," said an MDC-T insider.
The source added that the party's primary election system whereby sitting Members of Parliament went through a confirmation process might have also contributed to its defeat as unpopular candidates bought themselves in.
The party's young Turks who have been with the MDC-T since its formation were sidelined on account that they did not have money, added the source.
But another school of thought argues that without Tsvangirai the MDC-T would lose grassroots support. Tsvangirai himself this week said he would be going nowhere.
The defiant MDC-T leader, speaking at the weekend refused to concede defeat to ZANU-PF again.
"We did not lose this election. It is in the imagination of ZANU-PF that they have won it and yet they know the truth that we have not lost the election," he said.
"This is not a personal issue, this is a national issue. If the MDC lost this election then it is not Tsvangirai who has lost and actually l get my mandate from my party, from my followers ' who are the only people who can say we are sick and tired of you so can you please go. That's where the mandate lies. So far, l have the full backing of the national council; l have the full backing of the people of Zimbabwe, until such a time that they can express it then we can talk about that."
After a political career spanning slightly more than a decade, the MDC-T leader could well have made his swansong appearance on Zimbabwe's political stage, with President Mugabe certain to have the last laugh. Since the MDC-T was formed in 1999, Tsvangirai has sparred off against President Mugabe in the 2002 and 2008 elections.
In September 2008 when Morgan tsvangirai and President Mugabe signed the Memorundum of Understanding which later gave birth to the Government of National Unity (GNU), it is reported that several people within MDC warned Tsvangirai against joining Mugabe's government.
Sections of hardliners in the MDC led by Tendai Biti, the party's secretary-general and Roy Bennett, the treasurer-general were said to have been against joining a coalition government, which by extension gave legitimacy to President Mugabe's rule and afforded him time to rebuild his party.
In retrospect, analysts said by joining the inclusive government Tsvangirai strengthened President Mugabe's political hand.
MDC-T insiders revealed this week that the former trade unionist was facing tough questions within his party over his leadership after he was routed by President Mugabe for the third time in elections that also saw his party losing control of the parliamentary majority gained in the 2008 polls.
In fact, insiders said the party faces an implosion following its disputed election defeat, amid indications of a push for a special congress to replace some top figures for sleeping on duty. The MDC-T's next congress was due next year. Others warned of an open rebellion against Tsvangirai for blocking those who won Parliamentary seats from going into Parliament.
In 2005, Tsvangirai triggered the MDC split after he imposed a decision on the party not to participate in Senatorial elections, resulting in the emergence of the anti-Senate faction that he led and the pro-Senate faction that was led by the late Gibson Sibanda and Welshman Ncube, now the MDC leader.
A stunned MDC-T has refused to accept the election results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission citing irregularities in the run-up to the poll as evidence that "victory" was yet again stolen from it by ZANU-PF.
The MDC-T points to the unavailability of the voters' roll, the high number of assisted voters and lack of political reform ahead of the elections among other things as factors that rendered the results of the July 31 poll a "huge farce" and "null and void".
The party on Friday challenges the poll results in court and the case is set to be heard on Wednesday. Tsvangirai also said his party is taking up the issue with both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union, which observed the country's elections.
The latest defeat to ZANU-PF could split the MDC-T. There are those who feel that Tsvangirai has played his part, and should step aside at the next congress if not earlier to allow a younger leader to take-over.
This school of thought believes that after failing to dislodge President Mugabe on three occasions, the MDC-T leader has run out of ideas, hence the need to pass the baton to someone who could bring in new ways of doing things.
Emboldening this view is the perception that the electorate could have ditched the MDC-T because of the gaffes committed by Tsvangirai during the lifespan of the inclusive government.
The MDC-T leader has been embroiled in sex scandals and has prevaricated on crucial issues, which portrayed him as indecisive.
"This defeat calls for an extraordinary congress. We need to redefine ourselves. If in ZANU-PF people like Christopher Mushohwe can go back to Mutare to reconnect with the people, there is need for some people to go back and mix and mingle with the people," said an MDC-T insider.
The source added that the party's primary election system whereby sitting Members of Parliament went through a confirmation process might have also contributed to its defeat as unpopular candidates bought themselves in.
The party's young Turks who have been with the MDC-T since its formation were sidelined on account that they did not have money, added the source.
But another school of thought argues that without Tsvangirai the MDC-T would lose grassroots support. Tsvangirai himself this week said he would be going nowhere.
The defiant MDC-T leader, speaking at the weekend refused to concede defeat to ZANU-PF again.
"We did not lose this election. It is in the imagination of ZANU-PF that they have won it and yet they know the truth that we have not lost the election," he said.
"This is not a personal issue, this is a national issue. If the MDC lost this election then it is not Tsvangirai who has lost and actually l get my mandate from my party, from my followers ' who are the only people who can say we are sick and tired of you so can you please go. That's where the mandate lies. So far, l have the full backing of the national council; l have the full backing of the people of Zimbabwe, until such a time that they can express it then we can talk about that."
After a political career spanning slightly more than a decade, the MDC-T leader could well have made his swansong appearance on Zimbabwe's political stage, with President Mugabe certain to have the last laugh. Since the MDC-T was formed in 1999, Tsvangirai has sparred off against President Mugabe in the 2002 and 2008 elections.
In September 2008 when Morgan tsvangirai and President Mugabe signed the Memorundum of Understanding which later gave birth to the Government of National Unity (GNU), it is reported that several people within MDC warned Tsvangirai against joining Mugabe's government.
Sections of hardliners in the MDC led by Tendai Biti, the party's secretary-general and Roy Bennett, the treasurer-general were said to have been against joining a coalition government, which by extension gave legitimacy to President Mugabe's rule and afforded him time to rebuild his party.
In retrospect, analysts said by joining the inclusive government Tsvangirai strengthened President Mugabe's political hand.
Source - zimpapers
