Tsvangirai's dirt exposed

MDC Renewal Team chairperson Samuel Sipepa Nkomo yesterday said the MDC-T lost last year's harmonised elections because party leader Morgan Tsvangirai squandered campaign money on escapades with women, including paying off Lorcadia Karimatsenga.

Sipepa Nkomo made the claims while addressing structures of the Renewal Team at a meeting at Stanley Square in Bulawayo.

He said they knew that they would lose last year's election to Zanu-PF because Tsvangirai, who was referred to as "Gumbura" during the meeting, had personalised the party and ignored advice from his lieutenants.

Sipepa Nkomo said when the Renewal team goes for congress, they would choose a leader who was a team leader and not a "God".

"That president must be God-fearing and not a man of many women and prostitutes," Sipepa Nkomo said in apparent reference to Tsvangirai.

"God does not condone prostitution. When you become too proud, God puts you down but when you humble yourself, God raises you. When you become leaders, do not borrow money from the party to pay for concubines.

"We were there and we know what we are talking about. He paid lobola for Lorcadia with money from the party."

Sipepa Nkomo said the party lost in last year's national elections because the leadership had become too confident and arrogant.

"We were too proud, we were there before we got there," Sipepa Nkomo said.

"When we were at a rally at White City last year, his wife (Elizabeth) Macheka told him not to take people for granted but some woman (MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe) at the same rally said come August 1, I and Morgan Richard Tsvangirai will be entering State House. Where are they now?"

Sipepa Nkomo said while Zanu-PF gave its candidates vehicles, money and campaign material, they were given small amounts of money.

"Members of Parliament were given $700 while councillors were only given $100. The money had been used to pay for concubines," he said.

Sipepa Nkomo said Tsvangirai ignored pleas by the national council not to take part in the elections, but he was obsessed with power and thought he would win.

Contacted for comment, MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora dismissed the allegations as malicious and coming from people who were clueless on what to do in their party.

"That is utter rubbish. To show that they have nothing to do, they spend their time denigrating and debranding Morgan Tsvangirai. Instead of concentrating on their party programmes, they waste time making baseless accusations against Tsvangirai," he said.

MDC Renewal Team secretary general Tendai Biti said they had wasted 15 years supporting the leadership of Tsvangirai.

"We are saying ‘no' to 15 years wasted in a post liberation movement," said Biti who desribed Harvest House as a headquarters of gossip.

Biti said Tsvangirai, whom he referred to as "Gumbura" or "that man with a bumpy face", was always working against the interests of the party.

"He has a self destruct machine that at a time when things are going good, he presses and everything falls apart. Leaders should know when their time is up," Biti said.

He said the MDC-T congress would be characterised by violence as it was full of people who were obsessed with positions.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Renewal Party sang Nkosi Sikelel'I Africa,  an anthem which Bulawayo Working Committee chairperson  Kucaca Phulu said symbolised that the country was not free.

"We sang an old anthem because we want to be freed from slavery in Zimbabwe," said Phulu.

The organisation's treasurer, Elton Mangoma, said they were no longer worried about Tsvangirai as he was history.

He said their greatest opponents were now Zanu-PF.

Mangoma said anyone who wants to know why Tsvangirai is history, could read his report where he suggested that the MDC-T leader step down.