'MDC-T officials can boycott Tsvangirai,' says Mwonzora

Senior MDC-T officials, including Secretary General and former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, will not be questioned or punished for boycotting rallies addressed by leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Attendances are voluntary, says party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora.

Since Deputy Treasurer Elton Mangoma was suspended for calling on Tsvangirai to step down, Biti and other top officials have boycotted all public meetings addressed by the former Prime Minister.

The move is widely seen as evidence that the officials who also include youths chairperson Solomon Madzore, his secretary-general Primrose Mkwananzi and former organizing secretary Elias Mudzuri, share Mangoma's view that Tsvangirai must step down.

However, in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the MDC-T rally held in Gweru over the weekend, Mwonzora said "We are aware that the secretary-general (Biti) and some other top officials have for some time now been absent from rallies. But our constitution says attendance at rallies must be voluntary so there is nothing that can be done to them," said Mwonzora.

The rallies have been well-attended, which Mwonzora said was an indication that Tsvangira was still popular.

Meanwhile, national chairman Lovemore Moyo, women's assembly chairperson Theresa Makone and Organizing secretary Nelson Chamisa took turns at the weekend to denounce all those who are calling for Tsvangirai to step down.

Makone insinuated that Biti does not command a big enough following for him to succeed Tsvangirai.

"Tsvangirai is like a main actor in a film. He does not die. When one of his weapons break, another one emerges in a stronger condition. He is losing some weapons but at the same time finding new stronger ones," said Chamisa.