News / National
Roy Bennett linked to Tendai Biti
17 Jul 2014 at 12:26hrs | Views
THE South African exiled Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) treasurer-general, Roy Bennett, is being linked to the splinter MDC Renewal Team and his membership has been confirmed by the faction's top leadership.
Although Bennett has kept a low profile as the leadership change storm has raged around Morgan Tsvangirai's continued leadership of the MDC-T following his then deputy, Elton Mangoma's explosive letter, he was the first top ranking official soon after the MDC-T's disastrous performance at the polls last year to question the former trade unionist's continued stay in leadership.
Bennett, at the time, said Tsvangirai's leadership of the MDC-T was not reflective of the will of the people. His tough talk against Tsvangirai was to later open a floodgate of criticism against the MDC-T strongman from like-minded senior party officials such as Eddie Cross, Ian Kay and Mangoma, among others, who also pointed at the shortcomings of Tsvangirai's leadership.
Bennett had, however, kept mum on the MDC-T developments of late. Asked by the Financial Gazette where Bennett's loyalties lie, Biti said; "Of course, Roy Bennett is a part of us. He will speak for himself at the right time. Any right minded Zimbabwean would be a part of us."
Bennett has been in exile since September 2011 and is wanted by the Zanu-PF administration for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government of President Robert Mugabe.
It is these charges that make it near-impossible for Bennett to return to the country and appear side by side with his colleagues fighting against Zanu-PF. Mangoma confirmed this week that Bennett was a member of the renewal team and his role involved offering "moral support" to the new movement.
"He (Bennett) is with us. He has got issues as a person who is in exile, so he sends his moral support like he was doing before," said Mangoma. In an interview with this paper last September, Bennett spoke about the need for the MDC-T to undergo renewal after it suffered defeat to Zanu-PF at the polls.
"…The party (MDC) now needs to adopt a far more assertive stance in regard to Zanu-PF. It needs to do so both internally and externally with renewed vigour and steadfast determination…," said Bennett at the time. Political observers said there was little surprise that Bennett would go with the renewal team. Of late, he has been opposed to Tsvangirai's leadership.
"Bennett is lying low till a credible leadership emerges. He is closer to Biti than to Tsvangirai in mental capacity, awareness and hunger for certain changes. There is no way Bennett can choose Tsvangirai over Biti," said Tanonoka Joseph Whande, a United States-based political commentator. Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC-T spokesperson, said the party was unaware that Bennett had switched to the renewal team, but was unfazed if that was the case.
"We do not know anything about that, but if Bennett wants to be part of the renewal team then it is up to him," said Mwonzora this week.
Bennett did not respond to repeated phone calls and emails sent to him for clarification on his political future. He has been crucial in the MDC-T's fundraising activities and without him Tsvangirai's party is likely to struggle even more to connect with its foreign donors.
The MDC-T is scheduled to hold an elective congress in October this year amid indications that it is scrapping the feeding trough in order to finance that congress. There are also no signs that Treasury will make available any funding under the Political Parties Finance Act anytime soon. A report by this publication indicated that Treasury owes the MDC-T nearly US$5 million under the Act.
The MDC-T now has been forced to turn to its members who number a million to guard against a potentially embarrassing situation, whereby its precarious finances could jeopardise the congress. Party members have been asked to make a minimum contribution of US$1 each in order to finance the upcoming congress.
Biti, the interim leader of the renewal team said the faction would rely on support it receives from its supporters to carry out its activities. The MDC renewal team will hold its congress next March.
Although Bennett has kept a low profile as the leadership change storm has raged around Morgan Tsvangirai's continued leadership of the MDC-T following his then deputy, Elton Mangoma's explosive letter, he was the first top ranking official soon after the MDC-T's disastrous performance at the polls last year to question the former trade unionist's continued stay in leadership.
Bennett, at the time, said Tsvangirai's leadership of the MDC-T was not reflective of the will of the people. His tough talk against Tsvangirai was to later open a floodgate of criticism against the MDC-T strongman from like-minded senior party officials such as Eddie Cross, Ian Kay and Mangoma, among others, who also pointed at the shortcomings of Tsvangirai's leadership.
Bennett had, however, kept mum on the MDC-T developments of late. Asked by the Financial Gazette where Bennett's loyalties lie, Biti said; "Of course, Roy Bennett is a part of us. He will speak for himself at the right time. Any right minded Zimbabwean would be a part of us."
Bennett has been in exile since September 2011 and is wanted by the Zanu-PF administration for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government of President Robert Mugabe.
It is these charges that make it near-impossible for Bennett to return to the country and appear side by side with his colleagues fighting against Zanu-PF. Mangoma confirmed this week that Bennett was a member of the renewal team and his role involved offering "moral support" to the new movement.
"He (Bennett) is with us. He has got issues as a person who is in exile, so he sends his moral support like he was doing before," said Mangoma. In an interview with this paper last September, Bennett spoke about the need for the MDC-T to undergo renewal after it suffered defeat to Zanu-PF at the polls.
"Bennett is lying low till a credible leadership emerges. He is closer to Biti than to Tsvangirai in mental capacity, awareness and hunger for certain changes. There is no way Bennett can choose Tsvangirai over Biti," said Tanonoka Joseph Whande, a United States-based political commentator. Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC-T spokesperson, said the party was unaware that Bennett had switched to the renewal team, but was unfazed if that was the case.
"We do not know anything about that, but if Bennett wants to be part of the renewal team then it is up to him," said Mwonzora this week.
Bennett did not respond to repeated phone calls and emails sent to him for clarification on his political future. He has been crucial in the MDC-T's fundraising activities and without him Tsvangirai's party is likely to struggle even more to connect with its foreign donors.
The MDC-T is scheduled to hold an elective congress in October this year amid indications that it is scrapping the feeding trough in order to finance that congress. There are also no signs that Treasury will make available any funding under the Political Parties Finance Act anytime soon. A report by this publication indicated that Treasury owes the MDC-T nearly US$5 million under the Act.
The MDC-T now has been forced to turn to its members who number a million to guard against a potentially embarrassing situation, whereby its precarious finances could jeopardise the congress. Party members have been asked to make a minimum contribution of US$1 each in order to finance the upcoming congress.
Biti, the interim leader of the renewal team said the faction would rely on support it receives from its supporters to carry out its activities. The MDC renewal team will hold its congress next March.
Source - fingaz
