Tsvangirai spurns Biti hearing

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has scoffed at ex-secretary general Tendai Biti's attempt to haul him before a disciplinary hearing saying the former Finance minister should concentrate on his own party.

Biti's renewal team announced last week that it has set June 18 as the date for Tsvangirai's disciplinary hearing following his reported controversial suspension from the MDC in April.

Tsvangirai dismissed the meeting that suspended him as illegal, unconstitutional, illegitimate and bogus.

The MDC-Renewal Team has formally charged MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai with 17 counts of violating the party's constitution and has called him to appear before a disciplinary hearing.

Also summoned is MDC-T chair Lovemore Moyo, who faces four counts, which include failure to conduct free and fair primary elections before last year's harmonised polls.

According to the charge sheet, Tsvangirai faces 17 counts of contravening "sections of article 2.1 of the disciplinary code of conduct and regulations" as stated in MDC-T's constitution.

The Renewal Team accuses Tsvangirai of failing to provide "competent leadership" and acting in a manner detrimental to party objectives.

MDC Renewal Team spokesperson Jacob Mafume yesterday said the disciplinary hearing was imminent. But MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the Renewal Team had no power to summon Tsvangirai.

"We cannot be invited to a hearing of another party. These guys have formed a party which they are simply failing to find a name for," he said.