News / National
Mangoma defies MDC-T suspension
10 Mar 2014 at 05:02hrs | Views
THE turmoil in MDC-T continues to deepen with the deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma yesterday vowing to ignore the national council's decision to suspend him for calling on party leader Morgan Tsvangirai to step down.
Party members said the infighting which was reaching boiling point, was edging MDC-T closer to a split.
MDC-T national council met last Friday and party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora emerged to announce Mangoma had been suspended for breaching four sections of the party's constitution.
Hardly an hour later, MDC-T secretary general Tendai Biti convened his own press conference at which he said Mangoma's suspension was illegal, widening the nasty rift within the party.
Mangoma's lawyer, Jacob Mapfume yesterday told Chronicle that his client's suspension from the party was a non-event and urged the national standing committee to revisit the constitution and follow procedures.
"My client will continue with his duties in the party because his suspension is null and void. It is clear that procedures were not followed. If they wish to suspend him they should go back to the constitution and follow procedures," said Mapfume.
"The secretary general of the party Tendai Biti who, according to the constitution has the right to suspend Mangoma clearly said the move was null and void and we will stick to that."
On Saturday Tsvangirai openly told those pushing for his ouster to leave the party.
Mafume said Mangoma had the right to call Tsvangirai to leave the party, saying it was his democratic right to do so.
He said he was shocked that Tsvangirai told those pushing for him to resign, to leave the party.
"There is nothing wrong with Mangoma calling for Tsvangirai to relinquish his position. It is a legitimate issue in any party. People simply do not understand the concept of democracy.
"I cannot imagine that Tsvangirai said those calling for him to resign should leave the party. MDC-T is a democratic party and what he is being asked to do is democratic. It is either he was misquoted or he was taken out of context," said Mafume.
Party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said an "independent" tribunal will decide Mangoma's fate.
"It is not our intention to get rid of anyone from the party. The issue relating to Mangoma is before the disciplinary committee and if Mafume wants to defend Mangoma he should do so before the committee.
"What we reject as MDC is for people not to appear before disciplinary hearings to clear themselves. Mangoma must defend himself technically or substantively before the tribunal, through a lawyer of his choice," said Mwonzora.
He said the tribunal was made up of "independent" lawyers who were expected to give a fair judgment.
"The disciplinary committee is made up of three independent lawyers outside MDC. One of them must be senior enough to be a judge of the High Court. I believe his case would be treated accordingly," said Mwonzora.
On Friday Mwonzora said; "The charges preferred against Mangoma are as follows, he breached Article 2.1 (o) of the Disciplinary Code of Conduct and Regulations of Movement for Democratic Change Constitution which notes that an offence shall be committed by a member who disrespects and undermines any organ or elected official including failure to respect the protocol of the party."
He said Mangoma's allegations made in the various interviews with the local and international media houses undermined the authority of the national standing committee, national executive, national council and congress.
He said Mangoma also contravened Article 5.4 (b) of the constitution which notes that every member shall have the duty to conduct oneself in a manner which is not prejudicial to the interests of the party in particular, to adhere to the code of conduct of the party.
He added; "Thirdly, he flouted Article 2.1 (o) of the disciplinary code of conduct and regulations of Movement for Democratic Change constitution which notes that an offence shall be committed by a member who disrespects and undermines any organ or elected official including failure to respect the protocol of the party."
A senior party official yesterday said many with dissenting views had been threatened with expulsion from MDC-T.
"This could lead to another split. Anyone deemed to be supporting Mangoma and Biti is being methodically purged from the party," said an official.
Party members said the infighting which was reaching boiling point, was edging MDC-T closer to a split.
MDC-T national council met last Friday and party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora emerged to announce Mangoma had been suspended for breaching four sections of the party's constitution.
Hardly an hour later, MDC-T secretary general Tendai Biti convened his own press conference at which he said Mangoma's suspension was illegal, widening the nasty rift within the party.
Mangoma's lawyer, Jacob Mapfume yesterday told Chronicle that his client's suspension from the party was a non-event and urged the national standing committee to revisit the constitution and follow procedures.
"My client will continue with his duties in the party because his suspension is null and void. It is clear that procedures were not followed. If they wish to suspend him they should go back to the constitution and follow procedures," said Mapfume.
"The secretary general of the party Tendai Biti who, according to the constitution has the right to suspend Mangoma clearly said the move was null and void and we will stick to that."
On Saturday Tsvangirai openly told those pushing for his ouster to leave the party.
Mafume said Mangoma had the right to call Tsvangirai to leave the party, saying it was his democratic right to do so.
He said he was shocked that Tsvangirai told those pushing for him to resign, to leave the party.
"There is nothing wrong with Mangoma calling for Tsvangirai to relinquish his position. It is a legitimate issue in any party. People simply do not understand the concept of democracy.
"I cannot imagine that Tsvangirai said those calling for him to resign should leave the party. MDC-T is a democratic party and what he is being asked to do is democratic. It is either he was misquoted or he was taken out of context," said Mafume.
Party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said an "independent" tribunal will decide Mangoma's fate.
"It is not our intention to get rid of anyone from the party. The issue relating to Mangoma is before the disciplinary committee and if Mafume wants to defend Mangoma he should do so before the committee.
"What we reject as MDC is for people not to appear before disciplinary hearings to clear themselves. Mangoma must defend himself technically or substantively before the tribunal, through a lawyer of his choice," said Mwonzora.
He said the tribunal was made up of "independent" lawyers who were expected to give a fair judgment.
"The disciplinary committee is made up of three independent lawyers outside MDC. One of them must be senior enough to be a judge of the High Court. I believe his case would be treated accordingly," said Mwonzora.
On Friday Mwonzora said; "The charges preferred against Mangoma are as follows, he breached Article 2.1 (o) of the Disciplinary Code of Conduct and Regulations of Movement for Democratic Change Constitution which notes that an offence shall be committed by a member who disrespects and undermines any organ or elected official including failure to respect the protocol of the party."
He said Mangoma's allegations made in the various interviews with the local and international media houses undermined the authority of the national standing committee, national executive, national council and congress.
He said Mangoma also contravened Article 5.4 (b) of the constitution which notes that every member shall have the duty to conduct oneself in a manner which is not prejudicial to the interests of the party in particular, to adhere to the code of conduct of the party.
He added; "Thirdly, he flouted Article 2.1 (o) of the disciplinary code of conduct and regulations of Movement for Democratic Change constitution which notes that an offence shall be committed by a member who disrespects and undermines any organ or elected official including failure to respect the protocol of the party."
A senior party official yesterday said many with dissenting views had been threatened with expulsion from MDC-T.
"This could lead to another split. Anyone deemed to be supporting Mangoma and Biti is being methodically purged from the party," said an official.
Source - chronicle
