Tsvangirai warned on 'dirty past'

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai was yesterday warned by a rival group against making unsubstantiated allegations or risk his "dirty past" being exposed.

The Tendai Biti faction calling itself MDC-Team, said it was holding on to sensitive evidence of financial impropriety, which if made public, could cause irreparable damage to Tsvangirai's image.

The group's threats came after Tsvangirai on Sunday told his supporters in Epworth that axed MDC-T deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma had failed to account for some party funds.

But MDC-Team spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Tsvangirai should be the last person to raise such allegations.

"On money issues, I believe he doesn't want to go down. The deputy treasurer is trying to hold back, but if he wants to throw brickbats, he will realise that Mangoma's hands are clean," he said.

"It is in the public domain that he was given money by (former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon) Gono during the inclusive government and that even the (Highlands) house he is staying in now has issues.

"People should settle for an amicable divorce and not to throw each other in the mud, we will wait for him and if he does that, it will boomerang.

"He must stop making malicious allegations. If he doesn't show restraint, he must know those in glass houses should not throw stones."

Mafume also rubbished weekend claims by MDC-T deputy national chairman Morgan Komichi that "expelled" secretary-general Tendai Biti had refused to award salary increases to civil servants when he was Finance minister.

Meanwhile, political analysts said the ongoing public spat among MDC-T officials was ill-timed and posed a serious threat to the democratic dispensation that the electorate was yearning for.

"Zanu PF is at its weakest and boiling point," Alexander Rusero, a Harare-based analyst said.

"As long as there is no alternative, Zanu PF remains safe. A united MDC is stronger and an alternative.

"No group will remain stronger in this fight, the one will diminish like others have done and the other will be weaker.

"This is not healthy for democracy."

Biti's group a fortnight ago, said it had suspended Tsvangirai for misappropriating party funds and failing to topple President Robert Mugabe.

The former prime minister hit back by pushing for the expulsion of Biti and his group resulting in an impasse over who controls the MDC-T.