Tsvangirai in panic mode

The state media reports that MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has ordered the sharply divided provinces of the party to rebuild their structures ahead of an extraordinary congress slated for October.

Tsvangirai has been battling attendant problems ranging from an unprecedented revolt from his long-time associates Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma, to his tumultuous marriage to Ms Elizabeth Macheka.

MDC-T sources told The Sunday Mail that they were rail-roaded by Tsvangirai to ensure the shambolic structures threatening to further weaken the party are restructured before the October indaba.

Initially, the party was supposed to hold its congress in 2016 but recent events have pushed Tsvangirai to single-handedly order his lieutenants to an early extraordinary congress.

"We are busy working to re-establish structures because following the departure of Biti and company, we lost some of our members. That means there are serious gaps that need to be filled in provinces," said an MDC-T official.

Bulawayo, Manicaland and Matabeleland North provinces have been gripped by a serious crisis as officials clashed as part of a wider fight between Tsvangirai and Biti.

Resultantly, the party structures in districts and provinces were weakened by the incessant intra-party fights. Reliable MDC-T sources revealed that on top of the extraordinary congress, Tsvangira is working to rebuild the weak party which saw the exit of Biti and associates now commonly referred to as the MDC-Renewal Team.

The extraordinary indaba will also look at the party's dismal performance in the July 31 plebiscite in which Zanu-PF won resoundingly.
"Tsvangirai has not recovered from the shocking election defeat in 2013 which led to senior party officials calling for his resignation. This is one of the major issues we will tackle during the congress because for us to plan for the future, we have to look at the past," said an MDC-T official who preferred anonymity.

Further, the congress, according to sources, will also dwell on the party's constitution which is silent on Tsvangirai's term. The MDC-T leader claims to be a champion of democracy but has been accused of dictatorial tendencies.

He has been at the helm of the party since its inception in 1999.
New leadership is expected to be elected during the congress. The former prime minister went on a whirlwind tour of provinces recently, addressing rallies as he resisted a determined rebellion which threatened to sweep him out of office.

Tsvangirai has led a crackdown on dissenting voices calling for leadership change. Those who have challenged his leadership have been expelled.

The MDC-T source said Tsvangirai wants to use the extraordinary congress to reaffirm his grip on power as he constantly accuses Biti of being a parallel centre of power since the party's 2006 split.

Political pundits warned that the extraordinary congress was likely to be a flop because the party is broke and may not even afford to hire a venue. Tsvangirai recently pleaded bankruptcy before appealing for donations from party members and supporters through an initiative dubbed "Action 4Real Change".

The worsening financial crisis has rocked the party which is already on the verge of collapsing and efforts to hold talks with Biti collapsed following accusations that Tsvangirai was negotiating in bad faith.

Repeated efforts to get a comment from MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora were fruitless.