Opinion / Columnist
Who is the real MDC?
05 May 2014 at 15:34hrs | Views
In the beginning it was MDC, then MDC N (Ncube) and MDC-T (Tsvangirai), then there was MDC99, now it's MDC-B (Biti) or MDC Team, my question is who is the real MDC?
Considering all these splits and seeming rebirths, I can surely be forgiven for saying the party is now at the graveyard waiting for burial.
The total breakdown of the MDC-T party is characterized by the ever increasing number of factions. Factionalism in this party can be seen as an inside cancer that continued to spread to every limb from the onset of the party's formation.
In October 2005, the original MDC split when its president Morgan Tsvangirai overturned a majority executive decision to participate in that year's Senate elections. Then vice president of the party, Gibson Sibanda and then secretary general Welshman Ncube and other senior officials in the MDC-T party broke ranks with Tsvangirai and formed their own party thereafter referred to as MDC-N.
In 2010, disgruntled also with Tsvangirai's leadership skills, or lack of, Job Sikhala and other influential members also divorced themselves from the party and formed their own which they called MDC99.
Recently, what was left of MDC-T further divided when secretary general Tendai Biti and his allies called for a leadership renewal in the party.
In a press statement Zimbabwe's ambassador to Senegal, Trudy Stevenson, who is a member of the MDC formation led by Welshman Ncube, which splintered from the originally united MDC, highlighted that she was not surprised by the latest split in MDC-T.
"I am not in the slightest surprised by the latest split in MDC. Don't forget, in 2005 my group also claimed legitimacy and called for the suspension of Morgan Tsvangirai for going against the party constitution, in particular by overturning the National Council vote to participate in the Senate election…"she said.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), MDC'S "parent" also complained about the turmoil shaking the party saying it has left the party weaker and inefficient.
ZCTU president George Nkiwane noted that, "The opposition party is not in a better position either, with the MDC-T leader fighting for his political life as calls for resignation increase. This has left the opposition party weaker and badly bruised."
In short, MDC-T party is now in serious disarray where continued divides has led the party into its death.
Despite factionalism in the MDC-T party, lack of funds to sponsor the activities of the party by Western donors is also a contributing factor to the death of MDC-T. Recently Tsvangirai was in Botswana begging for funds to settle his debts among them a USD 30 000 for food and accommodation which accumulated in Harare following a district chairpersons meeting held in February.
For MDC-T party we can safely say rest in peace!
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Peacemaker Zano can be contacted at peacemakerzano@gmail.com
Source - Peacemaker Zano
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