'Gorden Moyo is ours'

THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Team, a breakaway faction of the main opposition MDC-T, has claimed that former Bulawayo provincial party chairman, Gorden Moyo, belongs to their camp despite the fact that the Makokoba Member of Parliament did not declare allegiance to any of the two camps. The MDC-Team is fronted by expelled secretary general, Tendai Biti.

When he resigned, the former civic society activist left a lot of questions unanswered by not declaring his factional allegiance. He copied his resignation letter to secretaries general of both camps saying he was not sure which of the two factions had legitimacy of the party. "I cannot pretend that there is one MDC and for the avoidance of doubt, I wrote to both of them," he said.

The Biti faction has nevertheless immediately declared that Moyo is their man.

"We welcome this democrat who has moved to join fellow democrats. Moyo said he was disassociating himself from undemocratic company and wants to see democracy prevail. He is our man," said Jacob Mafume, spokesperson for  the MDC-Team.

"It is that sentiment by Moyo that we welcome. We are on the same path. He said in his statement that he has the desire to renew the Zimbabwean promise and here we are offering ourselves as the midwives to a renewed Zimbabwean promise," said Mafume.

"We know Gorden Moyo is a principled man who has worked consistently and persistently to better the lives of Zimbabweans in whatever role he has assumed. We therefore gladly welcome him into the democratic family," he added.

MDC-T spokesman, Douglas Mwonzora, scoffed at Mafume's claims saying they did not care where Moyo belonged to. "We do not know where he belongs to, neither do we care about it. He is free to go wherever he wants," said Mwonzora. "What we know is that Moyo told the whole world that he remains an MDC person, so whatever Mafume is claiming is best known to him and his colleagues, it does not interest us at all," he said.

MDC-T spokesperson for Harare, Obert Gutu, called Moyo a coward for not going all the way with his resignation. "He is a coward. By its very nature politics, the world over, is rough and tough.  He should have resigned from the party and also from his Parliamentary seat if he is really convinced that the MDC-T is no longer fit for purpose.  He cannot blow hot and cold.  It's either you are in the MDC-T or you are not," Gutu said, adding, "I am unimpressed by people who are cowardly and indecisive."  

Problems in the MDC-T surfaced after the party suffered heavy defeat in last year's general elections. A split became inevitable when some agitated for leadership renewal, while others favoured the status quo.