Mangoma, Tsvangirai feud scales new highs

HARDLY a month after MDC-T deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma's confidential letter pushing party leader Morgan Tsvangirai to step down caused a fierce storm, the embattled ex-Energy minister has struck again.

In a confidential letter to Tsvangirai, which was copied to the party's standing committee, national and provincial executives, Mangoma demanded that the former Prime Minister should organise an early elective congress and stop the purge against dissenting voices within the party.

MDC-T organising secretary Nelson Chamisa and Tsvangirai's spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said they were unaware of the latest letter and referred all questions to party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora who was not reachable for comment.

But Mangoma's legal representative Jacob Mafume confirmed that his client had written to Tsvangirai raising issues around constitutionalism.

Mangoma, who is still nursing assault injuries following his attack two weeks ago by suspected MDC-T youths angered by his push for leadership renewal, demanded a "constitutional audience" with Tsvangirai over issues raised in his initial letter.

The former Makoni North MP was assaulted alongside party secretary-general Tendai Biti and youth assembly secretary-general Promise Mkwananzi.

Part of Mangoma's letter dated February 24, reads: "Since your receipt of the letter, we have held a number of meetings where your behaviour has been marked by belligerence and non-tolerance of views that are divergent to yours."

Mangoma also accused Tsvangirai of convening an "unconstitutional" district chairpersons' meeting two weeks ago where he was allegedly lampooned and labelled a traitor.

"The reasons for convening that meeting remain unclear. The criteria of choosing delegates for the stated meeting remains known only to you and a few among the leadership," he wrote.

"In the actual meeting, you openly accused me of attempting a coup despite the fact I had handed to you this letter in private.

"Even more, I was not accorded the opportunity to set the record straight to the delegates, many of whom had very incorrect facts about ongoing developments," Mangoma wrote.

"I remain worried that the meeting you called on February 15 was unconstitutional and tended to usurp the powers of the national council, the body mandated to deal with matters such as the one at hand.

"My observation is that we are getting more and more unconstitutional in the manner we are handling issues."

He added: "Threats against my person and others perceived to be against you were made in the meeting and you did not censure the delegates who made those threats."

Mangoma also demanded that as a way forward, the contents of his letter should be taken to the constitutional body such as the national executive and national council.

He said Tsvangirai should order an end to the current purge on MDC-T supporters perceived as working against the party leader.

"Stop and reverse the attempts to victimise and purge party leaders in the structures who are perceived to have contrary views with yours (and) that the contents of my letter be considered in the appropriate constitutional bodies and forums such as the national executive and the national council," he said.

Mangoma accused Tsvangirai of being complicit in the intra-party violence that happened at Harvest House on February 15, saying as party leader he should have ordered the marauding party youths to disperse.

National executive member and Warren Park MP Elias Mudzuri yesterday condemned the intraparty violence rocking the MDC-T saying the clashes exposed party members to infiltration by Zanu PF.