Tendai Biti back home

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday buried the hatchet with his party secretary-general Tendai Biti, quashing speculation that the 15-year-old movement was headed for another split.

Tsvangirai addressed a news conference at Harvest House, the party's headquarters, for the first time this year, with Biti and Elias Mudzuri in attendance. But deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma was conspicuously absent.

Tsvangirai said Mangoma was not at the presser because "the national council, the party's supreme decision-making body outside Congress, had suspended him pending his appearance before an independent disciplinary tribunal. He is still very much one of us and he is innocent until proven guilty."

Amid speculation that the labour-backed movement was plunging into turmoil following the controversial suspension of  Mangoma which Biti had described as "voidable", Tsvangirai said the national focus had been diverted by "robust debate" in the MDC.

Tsvangirai, who described as "significant" the coming together of the "warring" parties, said a meeting of the Standing Committee held last Friday pulled back the party from the brink.

"On Friday last week we met as elected officers of the party, the national standing committee. The meeting was long; it was honest and frank discussions on developments in the party and in the country (took place)," Tsvangirai said.

"After a frank heart-to-heart session, we all unanimously agreed that our disagreements in the cockpit, while confirming our credentials as a democratic party, had needlessly diverted attention from the key issues affecting the people of Zimbabwe.

"But we had realised that it was important for us to sit down as a party leadership to openly discuss and sort out our issues. I am proud to announce today that we have discussed our issues and there is now unprecedented harmony and unity of purpose in the MDC cockpit."

Biti did not address the press briefing.

The MDC leader said contrary to some reports which paint him as a dictator, he said there was no other party in Zimbabwe which was tolerant to criticism of the party leadership like his.

"In those five hours of frank and no-holds-barred discussion, we saved this party. What is important is that there has to be stability in the party and there has to be discipline in the party. We want everyone to follow the line," Tsvangirai said.

In the midst of the internecine infighting, opportunists had sprung up and had been nicodemously plotting the ouster of provincial chairpersons agitating for leadership renewal. But the former trade unionist warned against making hasty decisions.

He dismissed as "false" the purported suspension of the Harare provincial leadership led by Paul Madzore. He invited all MDC comrades to "remobilise and confront the dictatorship."

"While disagreements are necessary in a democracy, they must be resolved and we have just resolved our differences," Tsvangirai said. "I want to acknowledge the fact that no one is guilty until proven guilty by the right forum, so everyone is innocent. At the end of the day, we are a team. We will swim or sink together. We have created a big tent for everyone and I can assure you here that no one inside is going outside, this party is not splitting."

Citing mounting economic challenges that have seen company closures and government failing to pay its workers, Tsvangirai said it was critical for the party leadership to resolve their problems amicably in order to pile pressure on the ruling party to fulfill its mandate.

The MDC leader, who has been holding rallies around the country, said the party "cannot afford this diversion." He advised his grassroots supporters, who have been baying for Biti's blood, to toe the line and desist from violence.

"What do our people out there expect of this great movement which they have invested in so much and which to them is their only lifeline to hope and prosperity? They expect leadership unity which is not negotiable," Tsvangirai said.

"This party is not in turmoil, this party will resolve itself. As we move forward, when we go out there, the people want to hear one thing, when is our suffering going to end. That day is going to come in our lifetime."

Elias Mudzuri, the former organising secretary of the movement, who has been a rabid critic of Tsvangirai, told the Daily News after the press conference that he felt secure enough to attend the meeting.In a show of unity, Tsvangirai was flanked by Biti, deputy president Thokozani Khupe, national chairman Lovemore Moyo and other senior party officials including Mudzuri.