MDC-T purge 'null and void'

It has emerged that the alleged sacking of MDC-T youth leader Mr Solomon Madzore and secretary-general of the youth assembly Mr Promise Mkwananzi is null and avoid.

Pro-MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai youths allegedly convened an illegal meeting at Harvest House in Harare on Sunday and "sacked" Mr Madzore and Mr Mkwananzi, who are accused of supporting suspended deputy treasurer Mr Elton Mangoma in pushing for leadership renewal in the opposition.

While the youths announced the "dismissals", party spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said there was no official meeting on the matter on Sunday.

"The youth assembly does not have such powers and they can only recommend disciplinary action to be taken against a member. We are very particular as a party that due process be followed. If there is anything, we are going to be appraised of that on Wednesday during our standing committee meeting," he said.

Mr Mwonzora said standing committee officials like Mr Madzore could only be suspended or disciplined by the national council, according to Article 12 of the party's constitution.

Mr Madzore yesterday said he remained president of the youth council.

"Ask the national leadership, they will tell the same position," he said.

A senior party official who declined to be named told The Herald that "party" meetings were being convened unprocedurally.

"There is chaos in the party. Meetings are just being called for and anytime, Sundays or any day of the week and in the process serious decisions are made in the absence of a quorum. We are tired of being called anytime for useless meetings," said the official.

Mr Mangoma ignited fierce infighting two months ago when he called on Mr Tsvangirai to admit he had failed to lead the opposition to victory in national polls and to step down.

In the ensuing fallout, Mr Mangoma and Mr Mkwananzi were allegedly assaulted outside the party's headquarters while Mr Tsvangirai watched.

Suspended Manicaland provincial spokesperson, Mr Pishayi Muchauraya, said the leadership renewal agenda was unstoppable.

"We are saying the party must go back to the founding values of 1999. We are explaining to the people how Mr Mangoma and others have been purged and suspended.

"We are also telling the people why we lost the elections. If Tsvangirai thinks he is still popular, we demand that he seeks fresh mandate by calling for an extra-ordinary congress.

"But this congress must not go ahead as long as he continues purging the people. We want to thank the first pioneers of leadership renewal, Mr (Nelson) Chamisa and (Obert) Gutu who told the US ambassador that Mr Tsvangirai is a weak leader who cannot make key decisions," he said.