Party funds force MDC-T bigwigs to heal drift?

MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai may have been quick to iron out differences between him and senior party officials who control and are signatories to party funds, which would weaken him financially, it has been alleged.

Tendai Biti, the secretary general and Roy Bennet, treasurer general, and the deputy secretary general, Tapiwa Mashakada are the signatories to party bank accounts.

Tsvangirai has been having hassles with a section of senior party officials who include Bennet, Elton Mangoma and Eddie Cross, who have openly called for him to step down and pass the baton to a new leadership.

Biti is also alleged to be part of the camp calling leadership renewal.

Mashakada, is said to be in Tsvangirai's camp but technically cannot access party finances single handedly without the other two signatories.

In an interview with Radio Dialogue, MDC-T national spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, said following deputy treasurer general Elton Mangoma's suspension, the party had selected Mashakada to be acting deputy treasurer and he will be the one handling the party's finances.

"He (Mashakada) will be handling the finances until such time the matter (Mangoma's suspension) has been resolved," Mwonzora said.

The party spokesperson brushed off sentiments that Tsvangirai had no hold or say over MDC-T's finances interrogating how such information would help the public.

It was pointed out to him, a party needed funds to operate since it was moving around a lot around the country holding rallies.

He conceded it was true the treasurer general, secretary general and deputy secretary general are signatories to the party's bank account but added the National Council had made arrangements when it came to party activities.

"The National Council has advised, made arrangements there must be more accountability when it comes to funding," Mwonzora said.

Sources said Tsvangirai and his camp were trying to figure out how they would break themselves from the bank signatory agreement and pull in donor support.

"This might drain him and his allies financially as they have to dig into their pockets, if they don't come up with a solution," sources said.

The source added that should the opposition further split, the issue of party funds might be a contentious issue.

Biti, described as "power hungry" by Tsvangirai's allies, had proposed the formation of a new political movement, a United Democratic Front, which recognises the ethos of the liberation struggle to challenge Zanu-PF, signifying a complete break from MDC-T.

He said this supposed new dispensation would bring together existing opposition parties and civic society.

Biti is also reported to be the power behind the renewal call within MDC-T to oust Tsvangirai, whose public face has been Mangoma.

Mangoma was suspended after the MDC-T's National Council ruled out he had brought the party into disrepute after publicly calling for Tsvangiari's resignation instead of using supposed internal channels.

However yesterday, Tsvangirai said he had resolved problems rocking the leadership of the party following talks with his rivals.

Biti sat beside Tsvangirai at a press conference at the party's headquarters in Harare to announce the outcome of efforts to end infighting that has gripped the MDC-T for the past few months.

"We have discussed our issues and there is now unprecedented harmony and unity of purpose in the MDC cockpit," Tsvangirai said.

It appeared, Tsvangirai is unready for a compromise yesterday saying he would not tolerate in discipline.

"Leadership unity is not negotiable," he said.

"As we move forward. It's time to remobilise."