Divisions rock Mthwakazi Liberation Front

SERIOUS infighting has broken up in the secessionist party, Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) after the expulsion of David Magagula, who was the party' spokesperson.

Magagula was expelled from the party in May for policy violations, violation of constitutional principles and insubordination.

Sections of the party, mostly those based in Zimbabwe, have expressed discontent with Magagula's dismissal, while the top leadership based in South Africa accused him of causing instability in the party.

Magagula has also been accused of continuing to use the name of the organisation, and soiling its image.

A senior official in the party's publicity and information department, Edmos Khumalo said MLF is appalled and disgusted that despite the fact that Magagula was expelled from the party, he continues to use and soil the name of the organisation.

"Owing to the rich history of MLF, Magagula and his friends cannot stop using the name of the MLF," he said. "We wish to warn genuine individuals and pro Mthwakazi organisations that they should not play to whims of pompousness, which seems to be directed by the enemy to undermine the restoration agenda."

Khumalo, in a statement, said the MLF believes that there exists genuine pro-Mthwakazi organisations that have positively and extensively invested into the restoration agenda.

"Today, however, the nobility and viability of the restoration agenda has opened up the flood gates for these fly by night and unscrupulous individuals and organisations hell-bent on satisfying their egos and stomachs," he said.

"These people and organisations will go to any length to spill the blood and dash the hopes of the people of Mthwakazi to pieces, while taking them back to the gruesome servitude, whose chains we in the MLF have determined to break at all costs."

"It is, therefore, not surprising that organisations such as the MRP could not sign the Chitawa declaration (in Botswana), but today are hell-bent on signing an alliance with a pseudo ‘MLF' led by an expelled Magagula for the specific purpose of participating in the upcoming Zimbabwe elections."

Khumalo said such cowardice represents the outright betrayal of the historic, noble and just Restoration Agenda of Mthwakazi. He said they could only liken this betrayal to that of Judas Iscariot.

He said even after he was expelled from the MLF, Magagula's numerous alleged evil activities kept emerging.

"In the honest and dedicated spirit of the restoration agenda, we would like to warn all those who are pro Mthwakazi against such high risk elements and organisations that are prepared to settle for anything less than the outright restoration and sovereignty of the State of Mthwakazi," he said.

Acting MLF president, Churchill Guduza recently wrote to Magagula informing him of his expulsion from the party "following consultations, with other key members of the party.

"It is in this light, thereof, that you are instructed to hand over, within one week, to the secretary-general the laptop that was allocated to you pursuant of your responsibilities within this important organisation," Guduza said in the statement.

"You (Magagula) failed to submit yourself to MLF's principles and your unbecoming behaviour of sitting down for the purpose of planning, conspiring, conniving, mapping and strategising against the movements' objectives, organs, committees and or members without following the movement's procedures has culminated in gross misconduct thereby."

Guduza said after Botswana asked then MLF leader, Fidelis Ncube, popularly known as General Nandinandi, to stop meddling in the politics of Zimbabwe because he was a citizen of the neighbouring country, Magagula was instructed to issue a statement signed by both the vice-president (then Guduza) and secretary-general of the MLF. He said Magagula instead issued his own statement violating the principles of the organisation.

"The statement that you issued was in the form of an interview with a faceless person in the name of a Mackay Tshuma, in which all the peaceful gains of the MLF under the leadership of General Nandinandi (Ncube) were ridiculed and undermined with impunity," Guduza said.

Magagula, who is based in South Africa, was not reachable for comment yesterday.