MDC-T in purging exercise ahead of congress

The MDC-T will this week role out a program that will see the party embarking on a massive restructuring exercise leading up to the congress in October.

Nelson Chamisa, the party's national organising secretary, told SW Radio Africa the program will be launched on Wednesday. The exercise will involve the auditing of its structures countrywide, coming soon after the renewal team split from the MDC-T.

Chamisa said all the details will be spelled out on Wednesday. It is believed the restructuring exercise will involve elections of new office bearers from cell, branch, district, provincial and national level.

Party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said preparations for the congress are at an advanced stage and accused former secretary-general Tendai Biti of running scared to participate in the elections, opting for an easy way out by forming his party.

'At this congress we want the people to choose the leaders they want. We are not worried about the so-called renewal people who are just a bunch of undemocrattic and opportunistic individuals.

'They wanted to take power through undemocratic means. The MDC has a constitution in terms of which people assume office but (Elton) Mangoma and Biti want to assume power through the back door,' Mwonzora said.

Political commentator Mutsa Murenje said the party will rejuvenate itself: 'The party should never impose candidates on the people. People should be allowed to vote for their preferred candidates and if the MDC-T is to revive its misfortunes, they have to be democratic in their restructuring exercise'.

Meanwhile, the renewal team is set to have its disciplinary hearing on Wednesday against MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The renewal team recently charged Tsvangirai with 17 counts of misconduct.

They accuse him of failing to provide 'competent leadership' and acting in a manner detrimental to party objectives. However, Mwonzora laughed at the suggestion the renewal team will go ahead with the hearing when Tsvangirai is not a member of their party.

'They made it clear they are now orange in colour and not red and they will be coming up with a new name for their party soon. One wonders if our President has joined their party because as far as we know he's still the MDC-T leader and is not part and parcel of the renewal team,' explained Mwonzora.