Geoff Nyarota talks about his failure to land the MDC-T ticket

MDC-T has been rocked by allegations of dictatorship, and favouritism in its controversial confirmation exercise and primary elections. A number of the party's disgruntled supporters filed to stand as independents alleging massive vote rigging in the primaries. The Herald reporter Peter Matambanadzo (PM) caught up with former Daily News Editor Geoffrey Nyarota (GN) to talk about his failure to land the MDC-T ticket in the Makoni South primary elections which were marred by allegations of vote rigging, violence and death threats among other things. At the time of writing, the Nomination Court was still to sit.

PM: In a letter to the Editor of The Herald published today (last week) you state that the story of how Pishai Muchauraya was confirmed as MP for Makoni South is a fascinating tale, which has not been told by the Press. What is the story?

GN: (Mr) Pishai Muchauraya was confirmed as MP for Makoni South on Sunday June 9, while he was in Rusape Remand Prison, where he faces charges of making a death threat against Amos Kutiya, my election agent, while addressing a rally at Chimbike Business Centre, near Rusape. Two days after the confirmation of Muchauraya in extremely controversial circumstances, a four-man delegation from the constituency visited Harvest House to submit a petition highlighting what they described as the fraudulent conduct of the confirmation by presiding officer, Mrs Rorato Dandajena.

They held a meeting with MDC-T vice-chair, Morgan Komichi and then submitted the petition to him. He assured them the Steering Committee would meet in due course to consider the petition. That was two weeks ago. We have not heard from him yet.

The petition highlighted the following irregularities and fraudulent activities: -- Illegal use of receipts issued for purchase of MDC-T membership cards by voters for purposes of identification at the polls, serious manipulation of MDC-T structures, with appeals totally ignored by Harvest House, the unacceptable conduct of presiding officer, Rorina Dandajena, who has regularly attended hearings of the on-going State vs Muchauraya case at Rotten Row as a friend of the accused person, voting by people who were not present at the venue and including two men who were in hospital on the day and have both since died.

PM: Are you suggesting then that Harvest House is protecting Mr Muchauraya and Mrs Dandajena?

GN: Yes. During discussion with the delegation from Makoni South at Harvest House on Tuesday June 11, vice-chairperson, Morgan Komichi, did not mince his words. He stated unequivocally that the events at Mutungagore on June 9 were an embarrassment to the MDC-T. He stated categorically that party policy was that voters would identify themselves only by presentation of official national ID cards or passports; not receipts issued for purchase of MDC-T membership cards, as happened at Mutungagore. During the course of the meeting Hon Komichi made this point a total of three times.

PM: Some of your critics say you are washing dirty linen in public?

GN: In these issues it is what the voters in the constituency say, not what critics in Harare say. The Makoni South confirmation was rigged on March 9. I have not said anything until today. I wanted to protect the MDC-T. For two weeks the officials have not addressed our complaints. They have held themselves incommunicado. In any case, I do not subscribe to the sentiment that it is always wrong to wash dirty linen in public.

Quite often the public laundering of soiled linen is the only viable remedy available to solve vexing problems. I believe in transparency. Sometimes we perpetuate wrong doing and thus undermine the credibility of an organisation through concealing our mistakes from the public. Instead of always castigating those of its members who are left with no option but to go public, parties such as the MDC-T should also develop a culture of reprimanding those members who soil the party's linen in public in the first place.

PM: Some of your colleagues in the MDC suggest that you should not have reported Mr Muchauraya to the police?

GN: Yes, but the few I have spoken to have not given me any convincing reason for their position. All they say is that Muchauraya is a member of the party, as if members of the party are immune from prosecution in cases of alleged crime or other wrong doing. I was threatened with death and I reported the matter to the police, which is what every law-abiding citizen should do. It is up to the courts to find accused persons guilty or innocent.

The fact that many people in the MDC-T have no faith in the police does not mean that we, as a party are therefore immune from arrest when we break the law. The MDC-T has always been critical of the breakdown of law and order under Zanu-PF. Hon Theresa Makone, who represents the MDC-T is co-Minister of Home Affairs and is therefore responsible for the police.

I have absolute faith in her abilities because he is not restrained by his superiors in the party Muchauraya now believes he has a legitimate right to threaten innocent people with death. This explains why he threatened Amos Kutiya with death in public at a rally.

This happened while he had a similar case pending in the courts. It irks me that the party guarantees protection to Muchauraya to the extent that Tonderai Bhatasara, the defence counsel in State vs Muchauraya, is an MDC-T lawyer. If MDC-T members want to be above the law before their party assumes power, imagine the mayhem when the MDC-T is the government of Zimbabwe.

PM: We are reliably informed that the MDC-T has taken a decision to disregard your petition because you reported Muchauraya to the police?

GN: This has not been communicated to me officially. But it would be a sad development if this is true, a decision that the MDC-T leadership will regret one day. This would be a sad case of the MDC-T punishing the victim while rewarding the alleged villain. This runs contrary to the democratic principles preached daily by our party.

PM: We are also reliably informed that sentiment is running high that you should withdraw the Pishai Muchauraya case from the courts?

GN: How can I withdraw a case that I reported to the police four months ago? This is a criminal case, not a civil case. The truth is that, even if I was that way inclined, there is no way I can withdraw State vs Muchauraya, a case in which I am only a state witness. In any case I am not convinced that there would be any benefit accruing to me from such withdrawal, especially now that I appear to have been punished through official sanctioning of Muchauraya's stolen electoral victory. It's rather like a "tails you win, heads I lose" situation.

PM: So what's the next step for you if the MDC-T prefers to go with Mr Muchauraya even if your petition represents a very strong case against him, and even if he is likely to be convicted and possibly jailed?

GN: My family always sees the bright or positive side of even the most adverse of situations. Now they see the hand of God intervening on my behalf in the events surrounding my so-called defeat in Makoni South. They say this could be the beginning of a new and totally different future. But I am now under pressure from supporters in Makoni South who want me to stand as an Independent MDC-T candidate. Their view is that a strong political point would be made if I was to win the Makoni South seat in Parliament and proceeded to deliver it to Harvest House.

PM: Any other point you might want to make?

GN: I am left shell-shocked by the high-handed and arrogant attitude of some officials at Harvest House towards members. I think this is unacceptable for the MDC-T, a party that not only purports to be a purveyor of democratic principles, but also to be a party of excellence. I must also comment on the failure of the media in general to hold the political parties accountable to the public and their members in particular, for their conduct during the current election process. As a result politicians have virtually been getting away with murder.

PM: Thank you.