Tsvangirai under fire over his 'dirty linen'

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has come under fire from his subordinates who accuse him of bringing the name of the opposition party into disrepute by "washing dirty linen" about his marital problems in the public  media.

Speaking on condition of anonymity yesterday, a member of MDC-T's National Executive Council and National Council said many officials were livid that Mr Tsvangirai and his wife, Ms Elziabeth Macheka, were giving interviews to The Herald.

Mr Tsvangirai gave an interview to The Herald on December 31, and Ms Macheka did the same on the January 4.

Said the official: "We have cases of Thabitha Khumalo and Ian Kay who were disciplined for discussing party issues in the media. Kay (former Marondera Central legislator) was suspended and efforts were also being made to take action against (treasurer-general Roy) Bennett.

"Kay is accused of saying Tsvangirai is a ‘rusty bolt' and must go, while Bennett also said Tsvangirai should leave others to lead the party because he had failed," said the official.

Another official who has said Mr Tsvangirai must go is Bulawayo Central legislator Mr Eddie Cross, a call repeated by white former farmer Mr Ben Freeth.

"The general feeling in the party is that there is selective application of the law. If action was taken against others, why is it the same is not happening to Mr Tsvangirai and his wife (Elizabeth), that is if she is still with us, considering the harm they have caused to the party?" said the official.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora insisted no one was questioning Mr Tsvangirai.
"MDC-T is not in disarray at all and it is very focused on its historic mission, which is to fight dictatorship in Zimbabwe and bring an end to poverty and misery affecting the hapless people. This is what I can tell you, my president has already spoken on this matter and others," he said.

On December 31 the Herald carried a story quoting Mr Tsvangirai admitting that his marriage to Ms Macheka had essentially collapsed and the two had been living separately for close to a month.

The former Prime Minister lost his first wife, Susan, in a road accident in 2009, briefly married Lorcadia Karimatsenga in 2012, but the marriage ended in a costly manner as he had to pay upwards of US$200 000 to leave her so that he could wed Ms Macheka.

Ms Macheka now lives in the Philadelphia section of Borrowdale while Mr Tsvangirai remains in Highlands. On January 4, Ms Macheka told The Herald their separation had nothing to do with the MDC-T leader's loss to Zanu-PF in last year's harmonised elections, or his material well-being.

Ms Macheka said their problems were sparked by "sensitive personal issues" that only the two of them could resolve without interference from relatives, friends or party officials.