MPs threatened with unspecified action for boycotting Tsvangirai

MDC-T parliamentarians boycotting rallies being addressed by party leader Morgan Tsvangirai risk being booted out as purging of officials opposed to the former Premier turns nasty, it has emerged.

Official sources said the MDC-T MPs were on Wednesday given a tongue lashing and threatened with unspecified disciplinary action for snubbing Tsvangirai at a time the party was enmeshed in serious factional fights.

NewsDay reported that it is reliably informed that party national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa reportedly threatened to investigate MPs who were absenting themselves from the countrywide Tsvangirai rallies.

The MDC-T political commissar reportedly read the Riot Act at a caucus meeting for the legislators at the party headquarters Harvest House on Wednesday.

Party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora yesterday referred questions to Chamisa, saying he does not attend caucus meetings.

Chamisa was not picking up calls while MDC-T Chief Whip Innocent Gonese refused to comment saying a caucus was an internal matter.

"When we have caucuses, it is an internal matter. I cannot comment on an internal matter," Gonese said.

Chamisa is believed to be heading a faction fighting in Tsvangirai's corner while party secretary-general Tendai Biti and suspended deputy treasurer-general, Elton Mangoma reportedly belong to a rival faction pushing for leadership renewal in the embattled MDC-T.

"Chamisa threatened MPs for not attending rallies addressed by Tsvangirai," one of the MPs told NewsDay yesterday.

"He questioned our allegiance to Tsvangirai. Chamisa warned that the party will investigate those MPs who do not attend the president's rallies without an explanation."

But another official said the MDC-T MPs were fiercely opposed to the threats to sanction them for bunking the rallies.

He said the MPs expressed their displeasure at attempts to force them and other officials to attend the rallies, likening the move to a witch-hunting exercise aimed at purging those seen to be against Tsvangirai or Chamisa himself.

Tsvangirai has so far addressed three rallies in Harare and Bulawayo as he attempts to revitalize his party after its crushing defeat to Zanu-PF in last year's July 31 elections.

The rallies were, however, marred by poor attendance from party MPs and other top MDC-T executives due to factional fights.