News / National
Sipepa Nkomo blasts MDC-T leadership over violence
06 Mar 2014 at 09:12hrs | Views
MDC-T national executive member Dr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo yesterday took a swipe at his party's senior leadership following a spate of violent attacks on senior members.
MDC-T dominated headlines recently when rowdy youths violently attacked the party's deputy treasurer general Elton Mangoma and youth leader Promise Mkhwananzi in the presence of party president Morgan Tsvangirai.
Secretary general Tendai Biti, who was also a target, escaped the wrath of rowdy youths and sought cover in Tsvangirai's car during the commotion at the party's Harvest House headquarters a fortnight ago.
The two are accused of leading a faction calling for leadership renewal and Tsvangirai ouster ahead of the party's 2016 congress.
Last week, Biti's house in Harare was petrol bombed by unknown assailants as the leadership wrangle escalates.
Dr Nkomo, a council of elders' member and MP for Bulawayo's Lobengula constituency, told mourners at a funeral service for former deputy mayor Alderman Charles Mpofu in Nketa that violence was unacceptable.
"Violence is not a solution," Dr Nkomo said adding, "We should tolerate other people's views. If Charles was still alive he would have condemned the violence in MDC-T. Any form of violence is bad and this man would have condemned it."
He said the outspoken Ald Mpofu was a man who stood for the truth and feared no one.
Dr Nkomo's views come at a time when there is growing resentment against Tsvangirai leadership with party members saying the former labour leader had failed the party and must step down.
MDC-T dominated headlines recently when rowdy youths violently attacked the party's deputy treasurer general Elton Mangoma and youth leader Promise Mkhwananzi in the presence of party president Morgan Tsvangirai.
Secretary general Tendai Biti, who was also a target, escaped the wrath of rowdy youths and sought cover in Tsvangirai's car during the commotion at the party's Harvest House headquarters a fortnight ago.
The two are accused of leading a faction calling for leadership renewal and Tsvangirai ouster ahead of the party's 2016 congress.
Last week, Biti's house in Harare was petrol bombed by unknown assailants as the leadership wrangle escalates.
Dr Nkomo, a council of elders' member and MP for Bulawayo's Lobengula constituency, told mourners at a funeral service for former deputy mayor Alderman Charles Mpofu in Nketa that violence was unacceptable.
"Violence is not a solution," Dr Nkomo said adding, "We should tolerate other people's views. If Charles was still alive he would have condemned the violence in MDC-T. Any form of violence is bad and this man would have condemned it."
He said the outspoken Ald Mpofu was a man who stood for the truth and feared no one.
Dr Nkomo's views come at a time when there is growing resentment against Tsvangirai leadership with party members saying the former labour leader had failed the party and must step down.
Source - Chronicle
