'Tsvangirai breaking away from MDC-T'

Former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's opposition MDC-T has hit the precipice amid accusations from hawks within the party that the veteran trade unionist is leading a "break-away party".

A group allegedly fronted by suspended deputy-treasurer general Elton Mangoma has laid down the gauntlet and accused Tsvangirai of leading a splinter group.

Now calling itself the MDC Team, Mangoma's leadership renewal group, at the weekend, in a move that all but announced a split, convened a press briefing at which Harare South parliamentary seat losing candidate Jacob Mafume, who has also been acting as Mangoma's lawyer, was unveiled as spokesperson of the group.

Mafume was at pains to explain to journalists that the MDC Team was not advocating for a split.

"We are not breaking away, but those that are breaking the party constitution are the ones leading a breakaway. These are the people who have broken away from the founding values of the party," said Mafume.

"When someone is elected to lead a party they are not given title deeds to that organisation. The mandate is to lead and at some point in future, they are supposed to give way to others," said Mafume.

Asked to clarify those he said were now leading the breakaway faction, Mafume did not mince his words.

"Of course it is Tsvangirai we are talking about," he said.

In a statement read at the press briefing, Mafume cited the issue of violence as one of the biggest problems facing the opposition party.

" … there has been an emergence of the MDC Team which is advocating for a return to the party's founding values and the need to intensify our focus on tackling the national crisis.

" … the MDC Team has intensified and broadened its strategy towards a broad based debate aimed at ensuring that there is leadership renewal that gives the party a new impetus in dealing with the national challenges that are confronting us," said Mafume flanked by national executive member Last Maengahama and youth assembly secretary general Promise Mkwananzi.

He said the MDC-T, under Tsvangirai, had failed to provide an alternative opposition to President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF.

While Mafume could not reveal the composition of the MDC-Team's leadership, he said party secretary general Tendai Biti would make known his feelings at the appropriate time.

"Biti has made statements that we think resonates with our ideas of a united social democratic movement," said Mafume.

Reacting to Mafume's statements, MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora said:   "It is unfortunate that some people have refused to heed the president's call for unity and discipline in the party. The good thing is that they have absolutely no following. It is surprising that they clamour for constitutionalism when they are seeking to remove an elected party president unconstitutionally," said Mwonzora

Meanwhile, Mangoma yesterday concurred with Mafume, denying they had plans to form a break-away party saying he instead, wanted to take over from Tsvangirai.

"I am not breaking away from the party, I want to lead and take over from (Morgan) Tsvangirai who is clearly not doing things by the book and yes, I will attend the disciplinary hearing because I have not done anything wrong, it's a plot to sideline me," Mangoma said in an interview with The Zimbabwe Mail.

"I want to look after the people of Zimbabwe, you can see Zanu PF is clueless, while Tsvangirai is busy looking after himself and there is no one to take care of the people, which is what I want to do."

Mangoma drew Tsvangirai's ire when he penned two damning letters calling on Tsvangirai to step down and allow for an elective congress.

The former prime minister refused and called on support from the party's grassroots structures and called for a series of meetings and rallies, one of which ended in the violent attack on Mangoma and other leaders. He (Mangoma) was later suspended from the party.