'Tsvangirai overexcited and lying,' says Sikhala

MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday claimed that former St Mary's legislator, Job Sikhala had approached him with view of returning to the mainstream party.

However Sikhala immediately rubbished off the claims saying Tsvangirai was overexcited and lying.

Addressing a rally in Mabvuku on Sunday, Tsvangirai claimed that Sikhala had called him indicating his intention to bounce back into the MDC.

"Sikhala contacted me this morning (Sunday) saying he wants to come back; I asked him why he left the party in first place and he said mistakes are made 'I want to re-join others and complete the struggle'," Tsvangirai said.

But the former MDC99 leader, who is now a member of National Constitutional Assembly led by Lovemore Madhuku, said Tsvangirai was not telling the truth.

He added that the former premier was probably excited at seeing his supporters considering that his party was crumbling.

"That is lies; I think he (Tsvangirai) was just overexcited at seeing some supporters considering his party is collapsing. I don't have his number, in the first place, and I am not thinking about going (back) there," said Sikhala.

Sikhala left the united MDC in 2005 alongside then party secretary general and now leader of the breakaway faction, Welshman Ncube, then MDC deputy president Gibson Sibanda (now late) after they accused Tsvangirai of being undemocratic.

He later deserted Ncube and company to form his largely unsuccessful MDC99 project.

Recently, Tsvangirai has appealed to erstwhile colleagues who left the united MDC in 2005 to re-join him in his bid to remove Mugabe.

Ncube has already rebuffed the moves saying it is impossible to rejoin Tsvangirai, accusing his former boss of having a propensity to turn to violence against anyone who comes up with different ideas.

In the past months, MDC-T officials who have challenged and spoken critically against Tsvangirai's leadership have been the target of violent attacks by party youths.