Wrangle for MDC-T assets looms

AN IMMINENT split of the crisis-ridden MDC-T formation precipitated by the weekend "suspension" of leader Morgan Tsvangirai by advocates of leadership renewal could trigger another fresh wrangle for ownership of party assets and finances after the two factions drew battle lines.

A war of attrition over the ownership of the party's name could also set in.

Following the 2005 split, a fight for the party's property, name, symbols and finances also broke out.

According to two separate statements gleaned by this publication, the warring factions at the weekend traded accusations of financial recklessness with Tsvangirai being accused of "lack of judgment and an extravagant taste of high seas and high life, all done in the public glare regrettably (bringing) the party into disrepute".

The MDC-Team faction fronted by secretary-general Tendai Biti, deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma and national executive committee member Samuel Sipepa Nkomo said: "The abuse by the leader of dubious millions of dollars that came his way in questionable expenditure lines at a time when millions of Zimbabweans were starving and hundreds of victims of political violence were homeless or living in dire poverty marked a rupture of the leader and his working class roots."

"There has been a remarkable failure of leadership. The leader has been chasing shadows, including the shadow of another GNU (government of national unity), his endless personal issues, his hoped for pension and package, including ownership of the State mansion he is residing at,"the MDC-Team added.

Last year, while still in government, Tsvangirai scoffed at reports that he was "living large" while neglecting the poor saying he had a modest home and his official vehicle was second-hand and often broke down.

"The price of the house was pegged at $790 000 by government evaluators when it was bought and no other evaluation has been undertaken ever since. It boggles the mind to hear the allegations that it is now valued at that amount. Even after renovations, it would never cost $4,5 million," he said then.

However, the faction backing Tsvangirai hit back at Biti.

"Biti registered party assets under a company where he, Mangoma and one Fortune Gwaze, a former staff member, are shareholders," suspended MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said.

The party has offices in almost all the 10 provinces. In 2010, a regalia shop was opened in Harare offering a wide variety of MDC-T labelled products such as T-shirts, mugs, caps, CDs, DVDs and umbrellas.

Tsvangirai's party had been reportedly relying on donor funds from the West since its inception in 1999.

It also emerged last week that the troubled party resolved to force its members to bankroll its activities, including paying workers who have not been paid since it lost the July 31 elections last year to President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF.

The decision was reached by the party's supreme decision-making body - the national council - in March this year that sitting MPs would be required to part with a once-off payment of $100 while national executive members would contribute $50 each.

Councillors were required to contribute $10 each while ordinary members would each contribute $1 towards the party's cause.