News / National
MDC-T cracks developing swiftly
12 Aug 2011 at 08:18hrs | Views
Wide fissures are developing unfettered within the MDC-T between the Chimhini (Tsvangirai) and Magarangoma
(Biti) factions in Buhera. This was well pronounced when MDC-T party held a political rally attended by four hundred and fifty (450) people on August 7, 2011 at Jaggers Business Centre, Ward 5 in Buhera West Constituency which was chaired by Julius Magarangoma, the provincial chairman.
Magarangoma said, "I was elected to his current position by Chipinge supporters, while the people from Buhera, where I come from rallied behind the Mutasa North legislator, David Chimhini. Therefore, party members who are not supporting me as the provincial chairman should form their own party or join the MDC-M that is causing confusion within the MDC-T."
Magarangoma complained about the conspicuous absence of the MDC-T Buhera West legislator, Eric Matinenga, and the Buhera West District Assembly Executive at the meeting. This is an indicator of gross lack of coordination in the party structures which are weakening daily owing to power struggles among these political novices.
Magarangoma accused Matinenga of creating a parallel rebellious leadership structure within the Buhera West Constituency. He vowed that the Provincial leadership would ruthlessly thwart the move. He also accused Matinenga of being arrogant and disrespectful of him. He claimed that Matinenga had turned down the invitation to attend the meeting citing personal reasons.
Magarangoma warned MDC-T supporters against backing Matinenga. He found an unsubstantiated scapegoat when he claimed that factionalism in Buhera West was as a result of ZANU (PF) infiltration. This reflects that, the party has some crevices which allow it to tear apart without any checks and balances.
He then declared that the MDC-T Buhera West District Assembly would not be allowed to hold meetings in the area unless the Provincial executive directed otherwise.
The rift in the province was widened by the suspension of Chimhini and other five (5) members of his faction for holding an unsanctioned meeting at Jopa Construction offices in Mutare on 16 July 2011.
Biti suspended the six (6) members of the Tsvangirai faction to flush them out so that his camp would dominate in the province.
Magarangoma condemned the MDC-T supporters who were attacking the party for failing to deliver. He added that such supporters should instead contribute to the party's success. MDC-T ministers are famously known for under-performance in the Inclusive Government. This scenario forced its party president Morgan Tsvangirai to reshuffle his cabinet in which the worst performers, the former Housing Minister Fidelis Mhashu and former Energy and Power Development Minister, faced the guillotine.
The late Public Service Minister, in collaboration with Tendai Biti, the Finance Minister are notoriously infamous for frustrating public servants by resisting to pay them decent salaries. Things only got better for the workforce when President Mugabe had to intervene, to curtail further abuse of civil servants' rights by commanding a salary increment, which was eventually grudgingly awarded to them in July.
The MDC-T continues with its support mobilization meetings as they preach violence ahead of the anticipated general election. Denis Simango, the Manicaland Provincial Youth Assembly Chairperson, urged the party youths to actively participate in MDC-T politics. Simango urged party youths to retaliate hyper-actively and violently if provoked by ZANU (PF).
This strategy adopted by MDC-T to employ massive use of violence is detrimental in the country's quest to hold free and fair elections which are due soon. MDC-T has become a champion of violence within and outside the party. Tsvangirai is demonstrating a weak hand in keeping his party intact and stopping violence so as to cultivate tolerance which is a corner-stone of democracy.
(Biti) factions in Buhera. This was well pronounced when MDC-T party held a political rally attended by four hundred and fifty (450) people on August 7, 2011 at Jaggers Business Centre, Ward 5 in Buhera West Constituency which was chaired by Julius Magarangoma, the provincial chairman.
Magarangoma said, "I was elected to his current position by Chipinge supporters, while the people from Buhera, where I come from rallied behind the Mutasa North legislator, David Chimhini. Therefore, party members who are not supporting me as the provincial chairman should form their own party or join the MDC-M that is causing confusion within the MDC-T."
Magarangoma complained about the conspicuous absence of the MDC-T Buhera West legislator, Eric Matinenga, and the Buhera West District Assembly Executive at the meeting. This is an indicator of gross lack of coordination in the party structures which are weakening daily owing to power struggles among these political novices.
Magarangoma accused Matinenga of creating a parallel rebellious leadership structure within the Buhera West Constituency. He vowed that the Provincial leadership would ruthlessly thwart the move. He also accused Matinenga of being arrogant and disrespectful of him. He claimed that Matinenga had turned down the invitation to attend the meeting citing personal reasons.
Magarangoma warned MDC-T supporters against backing Matinenga. He found an unsubstantiated scapegoat when he claimed that factionalism in Buhera West was as a result of ZANU (PF) infiltration. This reflects that, the party has some crevices which allow it to tear apart without any checks and balances.
He then declared that the MDC-T Buhera West District Assembly would not be allowed to hold meetings in the area unless the Provincial executive directed otherwise.
The rift in the province was widened by the suspension of Chimhini and other five (5) members of his faction for holding an unsanctioned meeting at Jopa Construction offices in Mutare on 16 July 2011.
Biti suspended the six (6) members of the Tsvangirai faction to flush them out so that his camp would dominate in the province.
Magarangoma condemned the MDC-T supporters who were attacking the party for failing to deliver. He added that such supporters should instead contribute to the party's success. MDC-T ministers are famously known for under-performance in the Inclusive Government. This scenario forced its party president Morgan Tsvangirai to reshuffle his cabinet in which the worst performers, the former Housing Minister Fidelis Mhashu and former Energy and Power Development Minister, faced the guillotine.
The late Public Service Minister, in collaboration with Tendai Biti, the Finance Minister are notoriously infamous for frustrating public servants by resisting to pay them decent salaries. Things only got better for the workforce when President Mugabe had to intervene, to curtail further abuse of civil servants' rights by commanding a salary increment, which was eventually grudgingly awarded to them in July.
The MDC-T continues with its support mobilization meetings as they preach violence ahead of the anticipated general election. Denis Simango, the Manicaland Provincial Youth Assembly Chairperson, urged the party youths to actively participate in MDC-T politics. Simango urged party youths to retaliate hyper-actively and violently if provoked by ZANU (PF).
This strategy adopted by MDC-T to employ massive use of violence is detrimental in the country's quest to hold free and fair elections which are due soon. MDC-T has become a champion of violence within and outside the party. Tsvangirai is demonstrating a weak hand in keeping his party intact and stopping violence so as to cultivate tolerance which is a corner-stone of democracy.
Source - Global Networks Media
