Tsvangirai grilled over women

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai was on Friday grilled by his national executive members over the manner he was handling his personal affairs.
Sources said the meeting, which was called to discuss proposals by deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma calling on Tsvangirai to consider quitting, was almost chaotic as different sides traded insults.
An executive member said Tsvangirai failed to answer the five questions put forward to him by Mangoma in his letter and requested that the two meet again privately at a later date.
"Tsvangirai was given an opportunity to respond to the five questions he was asked in the document written by Mangoma. He said he could not immediately provide the answers Mangoma needed and the two will have to meet again at another time," he said.
The five questions were presented at a recent meeting attended by Tsvangirai, party vice-president Thokozani Khupe, secretary-general Tendai Biti, and Mangoma.
Mangoma asked Tsvangirai how he would answer the questions that MDC-T failed to care enough for its people and that the party used its time in government for personal aggrandizement, personal wealth.
Mangoma also wanted to know how Tsvangirai would put closure to the issue of women in his life and ensure that these would not continue to erode his and the party's brand.
"How will we put closure to the question of misuse of funds and ensure that our friends regain confidence that donations will be channelled to the people's project going forward?" he said in one of the questions.
Another executive member said Tsvangirai was told in no uncertain terms during the stormy meeting that scandals involving his personal life were damaging the MDC-T "brand" and efforts to rebuild the party after its disastrous performance in last year's July 31 elections.
He said some executive members said it was increasingly becoming difficult for them to defend Tsvangirai as they were no longer sure about his marital status and the women he was now involved with.
"There was concern that indeed Tsvangirai's brand is also now being eroded because of the several women he was said to be involved with. Lack of clarity on the status of the Highlands government house he is staying at has not helped matters," said the executive member.
He said members on Tsvangirai's side were very emotional and did not want the former prime minister's personal life to be discussed, arguing it had nothing to do with the party.
Another executive member said the meeting was almost evenly divided between those supporting Mangoma and those backing Tsvangirai.
"Gloves were off as executive members were exchanging harsh words with each other. It was really heated as members fought verbally with some calling Mangoma a traitor, while others defended his democratic right to express his opinion," said the executive member.
He said Tsvangirai was asked about the $3 million which he was reportedly offered to entice him to quit the MDC-T leadership. The MDC-T official said Tsvangirai denied ever being offered the money.
"It was discovered that it was a fabrication created by one of the senior officials in the party," the source said.
Another official said Mangoma was taken to task for publicly debating the contents of his document. Organising secretary Nelson Chamisa was also allegedly reprimanded on suspicion that he was the one who leaked Mangoma's document. Some officials were also taken to task for denigrating Mangoma's disability.
Officials who were fighting on Mangoma's side included the following parliamentarians: Settlement Chikwinya, Lucia Matibenga, Elias Mudzuri, Evelyn Masaiti and Paurina Mpariwa. Fighting on Tsvangirai's side were the likes of Chamisa, Chalton Hwende and Murisi Zvizvai.
Contacted for comment last night, MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora denied that Tsvangirai and Mangoma would meet again soon, insisting the matter was dealt with in the meeting.