MDC-T chickens out, reverses Ian Kay's suspension

THE MDC-T has said the decision by the party's Mashonaland East leadership to suspend former Marondera Central Member of Parliament, Ian Kay for five years is not valid.

Kay was suspended for backing calls by the party's self-exiled treasurer, Roy Bennett that there should be leadership renewal in the MDC-T after the party suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Zanu-PF in the July 31 elections.

MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora told The Standard that contrary to the decision by the Mashonaland East leadership, the issue of Kay had long been resolved.

Mwonzora said he together with MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai met Kay to reprimand him for making public comments supporting leadership renewal without following proper party procedures.

"Kay went to see the president of the party. They had discussions and they resolved matters. If we had received communication from Mashonaland East we would have advised them of these developments that took place but we did not see the letter from them," he said.

Mwonzora said the province could only recommend certain actions to the national executive committee.

"They recommend in writing and not through the press. Recommending things to us as a leadership through the press is like giving us advice in the press, it is very difficult to work like that," he said.

Despite claims by the Mashonaland East executive that it had submitted the letter of Kay's suspension to Harvest House, Mwonzora said this was not the case.

"Unfortunately we have not received any letter from Mashonaland East province, although I have had an oral discussion with the chairperson when I raised it with him yesterday (Thursday)," Mwonzora said.

The MDC-T spokesperson insisted that it was not an offence to talk about leadership renewal.

"What we have said about leadership renewal is that it should be a preserve of the members of the MDC.

"Therefore it is a thing that should not be discussed with members of the public or members of other political parties. Going to the press with these kinds of issues is inviting discussion from non-members," he said.

The issue of leadership renewal is a hot potato within the MDC-T amid reports of serious clashes over the issue. Senior party officials among them Bennett, Kay and recently Warren Park Member of Parliament Elias Mudzuri called for debate over the issue. Some of the MDC-T officials are said to be pushing for Tsvangirai to resign and call for an early congress in 2014 instead of 2016.