Opinion / Columnist
Tsvangirai's party falls apart
12 Mar 2014 at 12:26hrs | Views
An attentive examination of the existing political landscape seems to suggest the demise of the MDC-T. The leadership renewal wrangle within the party has taken centre stage as the pro-Tsvangirai and pro-Biti/ Mangoma faction members continue to outwit each other. This shows the erosion of democracy in the MDC-T, a party that claims to champion democracy. Events in this party are pointing to its split which will subsequently spell its demise.
At a meeting held recently in the capital, Tsvangirai had the guts and audacity to take a swipe at Biti and Mangoma for holding unsanctioned meetings which he said were aimed at removing him from the helm of MDC-T. In contrast, Biti vehemently denied ever convening such meetings resulting in a heated exchange of words between the two over the issue.
Among the issues raised against Mangoma are that of putting the name of the party into disrepute, defying the National Executive Council Committee by speaking to the press over party issues, abusing party funds (without specifying), calling for the unconstitutional removal of Tsvangirai and holding unsanctioned meetings throughout the country. All progressive forces advocating for democracy have dismissed these allegations as cheap politics of politicians who are fast losing support and relevance Deductive reasoning has it that the pending audit of the party structures is a ploy to purge all the proponents of leadership renewal.
It is apparent that the suspension of Mangoma is unconstitutional and the national council did not constitute a quorum because most of the members from Manicaland, Matabeleland North and South provinces, among others were struck off the registers, hence they did not attend. Simple logic suggests that Biti as the party's Secretary General should have prepared the charges against Mangoma but was never consulted hence the suspension is null and void.
By and large the National Executive Council and National Council meetings which suspended Mangoma were of a dubious nature which defeated logic and tenets of democracy. The meetings were stage managed as the pro-Tsvangirai faction members created a forum to rubberstamp the continued stay of their leader at the helm of the party.
The decision is aimed at silencing dissenting voices within the party on the backdrop of calls for leadership renewal. However, the suspension of Mangoma is likely to intensify the call on Tsvangirai to step down as much as it could act as a catalyst for the proponents to form a splinter group. On the other end more purging is imminent in the MDC-T party.
Source - Stewart Murewa
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