News / National
Tsvangirai snubbed
17 Apr 2014 at 08:31hrs | Views
The local leadership of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) snubbed party president, Morgan Tsvangirai, during a visit here last Saturday in a clear sign that the former trade unionist might not have it easy come the party's elective congress in 2016. The MDC-T will hold its congress in 2016 to elect those who will lead the party into the next elections, due in 2018.
What has made the congress of special interest across the political divide is that Tsvangirai, for the first time since he switched trade unionism for politics in 1999, would be fighting for political survival. While he used to be the MDC-T's natural choice in the past, the political winds have been blowing in a different direction, with several party bigwigs, among them Elton Mangoma, the party's deputy treasurer-general; Roy Bennett, treasurer general; Elias Mudzuri, former mayor for Harare and Ian Kay, a former legislator, calling on him to resign.
Amidst the simmering internal revolt, Tsvangirai has been whipping- up support from all corners of the country so that he stays put until the elective congress. He has already hinted at offering himself for re-election come 2016. But it would appear his re-election, if at all it is to happen that way, will not be automatic as had happened in the past. Despite wielding the axe on some of the renegades namely Mangoma, youth leader Promise Mukwananzi, Last Maengahama and Jacob Mafume for pushing for his ouster, the world seems to be crumbling around him.
Tsvangirai received a rude awakening in Masvingo. The MDC-T leader had visited the province for a memorial service for returnee Job Sikhala's father in Gutu, but got the shock of his life when less than five provincial executive members turned up. Conspicuous by their absence were the majority of the MDC-T's top provincial executive members except for a few who took the opportunity to re-affirm their loyalty to Tsvangirai as they stampeded to be seen and make their presence felt.
Those who did not turn up include provincial chairman, Wilstuff Sitemere; provincial secretary Tongai Matutu, youth chairman Oliver Chirume; national executive member Jefferyson Chitando; provincial organizing secretary, Ernest Mudavanhu and spokesperson Harrison Mudzuri. Only former Masvingo West Member of Parliament Tachiona Chiminya Mharadze, former Zaka West MP Festus Dumbu and a few others attended the memorial service.
Insiders within the MDC-T alleged that the bulk of those who absented themselves from the event are aligned to the likes of Mangoma, who are calling for leadership renewal. There is also speculation that the provincial executive members were afraid of getting the full wrath of Tsvangirai's loyalists had they attended the memorial service. This follows an incident at the MDC-T headquarters in Harare recently were Mangoma was assaulted by party youths in full view of Tsvangirai for calling on the former trade unionist to resign.
Yet others say those who stayed away from the memorial service were out to spite Tsvangirai for choosing to go to bed with Sikhala, who is considered to be a prodigal son within the MDC-T. Sikhala recently re-joined the MDC-T after nine years of pursuing a different political path. Following his exit from the MDC-T in 2005, Sikhala had become one of the fiercest critics of Tsvangirai. He is now promising to re-unite the warring MDC-T factions now that he has rejoined the movement. Asked to comment on the recent development, party national organising secretary, Nelson Chamisa, said the event was not a political rally hence party members who attended came on their own volition.
"We cannot force anyone to come here as this is not a party programme. This is a memorial service.Those who came did so out of their wish to console the Sikhala family," said Chamisa.
Efforts to get a comment from the absentees were futile as their mobile phones were not reachable. However, this is not the first time that some members of the executive have shown their disdain for the former prime minister.
In March, the party had to recall a party vehicle after a logo with Tsvangirai's face was removed from the car. Some of the executive members were also chased away at a funeral of a party activist, Edward Gono, in Gutu.
What has made the congress of special interest across the political divide is that Tsvangirai, for the first time since he switched trade unionism for politics in 1999, would be fighting for political survival. While he used to be the MDC-T's natural choice in the past, the political winds have been blowing in a different direction, with several party bigwigs, among them Elton Mangoma, the party's deputy treasurer-general; Roy Bennett, treasurer general; Elias Mudzuri, former mayor for Harare and Ian Kay, a former legislator, calling on him to resign.
Amidst the simmering internal revolt, Tsvangirai has been whipping- up support from all corners of the country so that he stays put until the elective congress. He has already hinted at offering himself for re-election come 2016. But it would appear his re-election, if at all it is to happen that way, will not be automatic as had happened in the past. Despite wielding the axe on some of the renegades namely Mangoma, youth leader Promise Mukwananzi, Last Maengahama and Jacob Mafume for pushing for his ouster, the world seems to be crumbling around him.
Tsvangirai received a rude awakening in Masvingo. The MDC-T leader had visited the province for a memorial service for returnee Job Sikhala's father in Gutu, but got the shock of his life when less than five provincial executive members turned up. Conspicuous by their absence were the majority of the MDC-T's top provincial executive members except for a few who took the opportunity to re-affirm their loyalty to Tsvangirai as they stampeded to be seen and make their presence felt.
Those who did not turn up include provincial chairman, Wilstuff Sitemere; provincial secretary Tongai Matutu, youth chairman Oliver Chirume; national executive member Jefferyson Chitando; provincial organizing secretary, Ernest Mudavanhu and spokesperson Harrison Mudzuri. Only former Masvingo West Member of Parliament Tachiona Chiminya Mharadze, former Zaka West MP Festus Dumbu and a few others attended the memorial service.
Yet others say those who stayed away from the memorial service were out to spite Tsvangirai for choosing to go to bed with Sikhala, who is considered to be a prodigal son within the MDC-T. Sikhala recently re-joined the MDC-T after nine years of pursuing a different political path. Following his exit from the MDC-T in 2005, Sikhala had become one of the fiercest critics of Tsvangirai. He is now promising to re-unite the warring MDC-T factions now that he has rejoined the movement. Asked to comment on the recent development, party national organising secretary, Nelson Chamisa, said the event was not a political rally hence party members who attended came on their own volition.
"We cannot force anyone to come here as this is not a party programme. This is a memorial service.Those who came did so out of their wish to console the Sikhala family," said Chamisa.
Efforts to get a comment from the absentees were futile as their mobile phones were not reachable. However, this is not the first time that some members of the executive have shown their disdain for the former prime minister.
In March, the party had to recall a party vehicle after a logo with Tsvangirai's face was removed from the car. Some of the executive members were also chased away at a funeral of a party activist, Edward Gono, in Gutu.
Source - fingaz
