Tsvangirai's MDC-T faces split

THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) faces a possible split that might compound its woes and further diminish its chances of recovering the ground it has lost over the years, as Morgan Tsvangirai, the party's embattled leader, attempts to whip into line all those who are opposed to his continued leadership of the movement.

Following the party's humiliating defeat at the hands of Zanu-PF in the July 31, 2013 elections, daggers have been drawn out against the captain of the MDC-T ship, former Prime Minister Tsvangirai, who has lead the party since its formation about 15 years ago.

Those against Tsvangirai's continued leadership, say he has nothing new to offer to his demoralised followers, especially after he tainted himself with numerous sex scandals.

Although several party officials have spoken out strongly against Tsvangirai, it is Elton Mangoma, the MDC-T's deputy treasurer general, who took his gloves off by confronting Tsvangirai straight in his face with a sobering letter, outlining the reasons why he should throw in the towel.

Tsvangirai has refused to bow down saying leaders are hired or fired at the elective congress, due in 2016.

Over the weekend, Mangoma was assaulted by party youths rooting for Tsvangirai after a meeting of district chairpersons from across the country. The party's secretary general, Tendai Biti, had to be whisked away as the youths bayed for his blood.

Now there is a resolution to institute disciplinary proceedings against Mangoma for fomenting discord in the MDC-T. The idea is to quash the succession debate reverberating within the party.

MDC-T insiders say the party could implode as a result of the leadership renewal push and the stonewalling of the same by Tsvangirai's backers.

Before Mangoma, several senior party officials, including treasurer general Roy Bennett, Elias Mudzuri and Eddie Cross had publicly said the MDC-T needed to seriously consider leadership renewal, inviting a backlash from Tsvangirai's apostles.

Although it is still mere speculation that Biti is aligning himself with those calling for leadership renewal, daggers have also been drawn against him.

A statement released this week by Tsvangirai's spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, said after the weekend's meeting of district chairpersons, the MDC-T leader "took the party secretary-general in his car to his house," after sensing danger for Biti but did not elaborate why the party's secretary general was targeted.
                           
With the anti-Tsvangirai sentiment gaining momentum, the MDC-T leader's supporters appear determined to set an example and have turned their guns on Mangoma, hoping to kill the succession debate once and for all. Mangoma is thought to be working with like-minded forces to oust Tsvangirai.

At the weekend, they convened a crucial party meeting that resolved to institute disciplinary proceedings against the deputy treasurer general who had cited a number of reasons in his letter why Tsvangirai should pass on the baton prior to that meeting.

Among others things, he accused Tsvangirai of having failed to undertake the reform agenda while still in government as well as using his time in the coalition for personal aggrandizement as evidenced by Tsvangirai's acquisition of his upmarket Highlands residence. Mangoma also cited violence on dissenting voices as well as failure by Tsvangirai to follow the constitution when appointing people to key positions such as diplomatic postings.

One of Tsvangirai's staunch defenders and a member of the party's national executive, Charlton Hwende, claimed this week that calls for leadership renewal had no takers. He said the party's structures have endorsed their leader and asked Bennett and Mangoma to vacate their positions.

"Our major problem is angry former white farmers and capitalists who have failed to hijack the people's project and derail the working class agenda," said Hwende.

"Mangoma is one of the biggest capitalists in the country and you have your Bennett and the rest of the frustrated white farmers who are angry because they think their agenda has been pushed further down on our priority list."

On Tuesday, Mangoma scoffed at the resolution to discipline him, which could be a precursor to his expulsion from the MDC-T.

"I told the meeting that the decision was unconstitutional. That meeting cannot deal with that issue. It must be brought before the national council, which was not done," he said, while denying being a proxy in matters that he has raised, insisting he was his own man.

Bennett did not respond to questions sent to him by the Financial Gazette.

At its formation in 1999, the MDC-T had a broad-base of alliance partners who included trade unions, students' movements, civil society and white commercial farmers.

Towards the last elections, the alliance started to crumble with the National Constitutional Assembly and the Commercial Farmers Union opposing some of the MDC-T's policy positions.

In its earlier years as a formidable opposition party that nearly wrested power from Zanu-PF in 2000, 2002 and 2008 elections, Tsvangirai's party has of late been been ravaged by internal strife.

It would appear that Tsvangirai and his supporters will no longer brook any dissent real or perceived.

Consequently, the party is seen splitting right through the middle. MDC-T insiders said while the so called renewal team might stay put until the party's congress in 2016, it was no longer safe for them to hang in there for much longer.

In 2005, the party split over the question of whether or not to participate in the following year's senatorial polls, with Tsvangirai against participation, while other senior members of the MDC who included Welshman Ncube, the late Gibson Sibanda, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga and Job Sikhala being in support of the idea.

After the split, the pro-senate grouping invited Arthur Mutambara to lead them. Sikhala later left the Ncube group to form MDC99. Mutambara, Joubert Mudzumwe were also to later abandon Ncube's party, but their group failed to leave any marks on the political landscape.

MDC-T founding member, Sikhala said it was difficult at the moment to say whether or not the party was headed for another split.

"What is clear is that Morgan Tsvangirai will not be able to work with the other team of Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma and Solomon Madzore. But Biti's faces a really challenge. Either they are humiliated in the party or they stand their ground," he said.

Political analyst, Ricky Mukonza, said from the latest developments in the MDC-T, it would appear that Tsvangirai has reached his ceiling.

In the event of a split, he said ordinary people were likely to remain with Tsvangirai, irrespective of issues involved.