MDC-T Congress, an Advancement of Shona Supremacy over the Ndebele

The MDC-T Congress of 28-30 April, 2011 has drawn a formal partition between the Shona and Ndebele confirming the worst, but little known fact, that the Party is run along tribal lines.

Tribalism in MDC-T is not without precedence as it started spreading its poisonous tentacles way back during the formative years of the then united MDC in 1999. Many will remember the mudslinging and backbiting of the Ndebele which was used to relegate the late Gibson Sibanda from Interim Presidency to being Deputy of the political movement. People were made to believe that Zimbabwe cannot be led by the Ndebele no matter how suitable the candidate is for the single reason that Ndebele people constitute a minority tribe.

The Cancer went unchecked, until MDC reached a stage where, even other leaders from Matebeleland region such as Welshman Ncube were made to swear every now and then that they were not interested in contesting for Presidency of the Party at any given time in their lives. This went on for a while until MDC split on 12 October 2005.

During the formative stages of the Inclusive Government (IG), the likes of Samuel Sipepa Nkomo were included in the MDC-T cabinet line up only as an afterthought but initially, he had been left out.

This explains why MDC-T derives comfort in harassing the Ndebele for no apparent reason with clear examples being demotion of Gorden Moyo and Thamsanga Mahlangu and does nothing when Sekai Holland labels Ndebele people cattle thieves. All this is despite the fact that the critical mass of the Ndebele tribe constitutes the major share of MDC-T support base in Matebeleland region.

The constitution of both Youth and Women Assemblies during the recently held Congress tells a sad story of how our civilized brothers and sisters from the country's Southern region are despised in
MDC-T.

Women's Assembly
Chairperson – Theresa Makone
Vice Chairperson – Anna Chitsa
Secretary – Sibusisiwe Masara
Vice Secretary – Margaret Matienga (Sunningdale MP)
Organising Secretary – Lynnette Kore (Chimanimani MP)
Vice Organising Secretary – Josephine Chitembwe
Treasurer – Siphiwe Banda
Information and Publicity – Memory Munotinzwa

Youth Assembly
Chairperson – Solomon Madzore
Vice Chairperson – Costa Machingauta
Secretary – Promise Mukwananzi
Vice Secretary – Netsai Samhembere

Main Wing
President - Morgan Tsvangirayi
Vice President – Thokozani Khupe
Chairman – Lovemore Moyo
Secretary General – Tendai Biti
Deputy Secretary General – Tapiwa Mashakada
Treasurer – Roy Bennet
Deputy Treasurer -  Elton Mangoma
Organising Secretary – Nelson Chamisa
Deputy Organising Secretary – Abednico Bhebe
Information and Publicity – Douglas Mwonzora

How many Ndebele are in all these structures? This does not come as a surprise as it is normal business practice in MDC-T.

Mavambo.Kusile.Dawn (M.K.D), the Party of Choice, is working hard to make Zimbabwe a very hostile environment for tribalism. We are guided by values of democracy, diversity, tolerance, patriotism, national participation and representation. We envision a stable, peaceful, united, progressive and developed Zimbabwe where rights and freedom of all citizens are respected and protected.

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Joel Mapaura can be contacted on joel@mavambokusiledawn.org or +263 (4) 792 566,
795 326, +263772 307 423, +263733 597 786.
72 George Silundika Ave (opp. Raylton Sports Club), Harare.