News / National
Tsvangirai gets vital backing
15 Feb 2014 at 09:39hrs | Views
As the succession battle in the MDC-T escalates, the party's influential youth assembly has thrown its weight behind party president Morgan Tsvangirai, amid reports the former trade unionist intends to purge eight provinces opposing him.
Besides backing Tsvangirai's continued leadership, the national executive of the youth assembly, headed by Solomon Madzore, went further to declare the opposition leader their preferred presidential candidate in 2018.
The endorsement came almost a month after the women's assembly also certified the embattled leader who is under pressure from hawks in the party to quit after the MDC-T's dismal elections performance last July and his controversial love life.
"The national executive reiterates the assembly's standing position of its unshakable support, uncompromising loyalty and undiluted confidence in President Morgan Tsvangirai," read resolutions of the party's national executive meeting of February 8.
"Recognising that the 31st of July 2013 election was stolen, the party remains united and firmly behind the party president. The assembly, therefore, reassures the people that the party is still intact and actually preparing for the next election with Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai as our candidate."
Hawks in the party have been agitating for the removal of Tsvangirai and convening of an early elective congress.
Impeccable sources said Tsvangirai was rallying party structures to support his continued stay in power, but was reportedly facing resistance from eight of the 12 MDC-T provinces.
As a result, the sources said, the camp backing Tsvangirai was working on dissolving the eight provincial structures. The former trade unionist was reportedly being rejected in Mashonaland West, Harare, Chitungwiza, Manicaland, Masvingo, Matebeleland North and South, as well as the Midlands.
Tsvangirai has since lined up a nationwide provincial tour to galvanise support, whip structures in line and kick-out those opposed to his presidency, the sources claimed.
"He (Tsvangirai) has targeted at least eight provinces seen as opposing his continued stay in power. His tour is, therefore, a cynical plan to whip up emotions among the rank and file against (Elton) Mangoma," a senior party member said.
Mangoma last month wrote to Tsvangirai advising him to quit the party presidency.
Party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora denied Tsvangirai wanted to purge the provinces.
"It is not going to be the night of long knives as some people believe. There will be no purge and the Elton Mangoma issue is not going to be discussed," Mwonzora said. "The president does not stop working because some people are jittery or afraid. He will meet provinces as has been planned and there is no sinister plot in that."
A key Tsvangirai ally, however, confirmed Tsvangirai wanted to hit back.
"It's true Mangoma and his group have a foothold on provincial executives, but they seem worried when it comes to the lower structures because you will note these people are not as sophisticated as you and me and also they do not have access to the same information we have," the ally said.
Tsvangirai has since called for a meeting today in Harare with the party's 210 district chairpersons as well as provincial leaderships, but there have been questions regarding the constitutionality of the gathering, as well as the extent of its mandate.
Provincial chairpersons who spoke to The Zimbabwe Mail, however, said they were in the dark as to the agenda of the meeting as well as its existence.
Harare provincial chairperson Paul Madzore, under whose jurisdiction the meeting would be held, professed ignorance.
"The president has the right to call anybody and any meeting, but I have not been invited or notified of this one," said Madzore.
His sentiments were echoed by other provincial chairpersons, among them, Manicaland (Julius Magarangoma), Masvingo (Wilstaf Chtemere) and Matebeleland South (Wachi Sibanda) - all saying they had not been invited.
Matabeleland North chairperson Sengezo Tshabangu confirmed he had been invited, but said it was just a "social gathering".
"It is not in the constitution, but of course, the president of the party can call any meeting," Tshabangu said. "The composition of the meeting is not clear though, but we have a right to get together and consult on what is happening in the party."
Mwonzora disclosed it would be "a working meeting".
Besides backing Tsvangirai's continued leadership, the national executive of the youth assembly, headed by Solomon Madzore, went further to declare the opposition leader their preferred presidential candidate in 2018.
The endorsement came almost a month after the women's assembly also certified the embattled leader who is under pressure from hawks in the party to quit after the MDC-T's dismal elections performance last July and his controversial love life.
"The national executive reiterates the assembly's standing position of its unshakable support, uncompromising loyalty and undiluted confidence in President Morgan Tsvangirai," read resolutions of the party's national executive meeting of February 8.
"Recognising that the 31st of July 2013 election was stolen, the party remains united and firmly behind the party president. The assembly, therefore, reassures the people that the party is still intact and actually preparing for the next election with Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai as our candidate."
Hawks in the party have been agitating for the removal of Tsvangirai and convening of an early elective congress.
Impeccable sources said Tsvangirai was rallying party structures to support his continued stay in power, but was reportedly facing resistance from eight of the 12 MDC-T provinces.
As a result, the sources said, the camp backing Tsvangirai was working on dissolving the eight provincial structures. The former trade unionist was reportedly being rejected in Mashonaland West, Harare, Chitungwiza, Manicaland, Masvingo, Matebeleland North and South, as well as the Midlands.
Tsvangirai has since lined up a nationwide provincial tour to galvanise support, whip structures in line and kick-out those opposed to his presidency, the sources claimed.
"He (Tsvangirai) has targeted at least eight provinces seen as opposing his continued stay in power. His tour is, therefore, a cynical plan to whip up emotions among the rank and file against (Elton) Mangoma," a senior party member said.
Mangoma last month wrote to Tsvangirai advising him to quit the party presidency.
Party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora denied Tsvangirai wanted to purge the provinces.
"It is not going to be the night of long knives as some people believe. There will be no purge and the Elton Mangoma issue is not going to be discussed," Mwonzora said. "The president does not stop working because some people are jittery or afraid. He will meet provinces as has been planned and there is no sinister plot in that."
A key Tsvangirai ally, however, confirmed Tsvangirai wanted to hit back.
"It's true Mangoma and his group have a foothold on provincial executives, but they seem worried when it comes to the lower structures because you will note these people are not as sophisticated as you and me and also they do not have access to the same information we have," the ally said.
Tsvangirai has since called for a meeting today in Harare with the party's 210 district chairpersons as well as provincial leaderships, but there have been questions regarding the constitutionality of the gathering, as well as the extent of its mandate.
Provincial chairpersons who spoke to The Zimbabwe Mail, however, said they were in the dark as to the agenda of the meeting as well as its existence.
Harare provincial chairperson Paul Madzore, under whose jurisdiction the meeting would be held, professed ignorance.
"The president has the right to call anybody and any meeting, but I have not been invited or notified of this one," said Madzore.
His sentiments were echoed by other provincial chairpersons, among them, Manicaland (Julius Magarangoma), Masvingo (Wilstaf Chtemere) and Matebeleland South (Wachi Sibanda) - all saying they had not been invited.
Matabeleland North chairperson Sengezo Tshabangu confirmed he had been invited, but said it was just a "social gathering".
"It is not in the constitution, but of course, the president of the party can call any meeting," Tshabangu said. "The composition of the meeting is not clear though, but we have a right to get together and consult on what is happening in the party."
Mwonzora disclosed it would be "a working meeting".
Source - zimmail
