Biti-led faction expels youth leaders

via Biti-led faction expels youth leaders 04 August 2014

THE youth assembly of a breakaway faction of the MDC-T led by Tendai Biti has expelled seven key officials who are aligned to the Morgan Tsvangirai-faction as the opposition party continues to implode.

“Assembly unanimously resolved to expel members of the youth assembly who have superintended over the orchestration of violence and unconstitutionalism (sic) that had come to characterise the party,” the youths said in a statement.

Among those who were expelled are Costa Machingauta (deputy chairperson), Netsai Samhembere (deputy secretary general), Mkombwe Dube, Mpumelelo Ndhlovu (organising), Happymore Chidziva (deputy organising secretary), Clifford Hlatywayo (information secretary) and James Chidhakwa (secretary for security).

“Following the expulsions, the assembly resolved to adopt a national working committee whose leaders and portfolio holders will be announced in due course,” the party said.

The MDC-T has effectively split into two with Biti controlling the new faction which is now calling itself the Renewal Team with Tsvangirai still firmly in charge of the other group.

All those who have been expelled by the MDC-Renewal Team are  aligned to Tsvangirai who remains popular with the grassroots despite last year’s crushing election defeat to President Robert Mugabe.

The MDC-T plunged into crisis in April this year after the Biti group expelled Tsvangirai and six top leaders who included national chairman Lovemore Moyo and deputy president Thokozani Khupe.

“The assembly resolved to return to and be guided by the founding values and principles of the MDC. The assembly has no allegiance to individuals but to the party and its values and principles,” the party said.

“We recognise the liberation struggle as an integral epoch and cherish its legacy in the history and posterity of this great nation,” read part of the resolutions.

“However, we take great exception and have no kind words for our erstwhile liberators who have betrayed the promise of the liberation struggle.”

The party said the war of liberation was fought principally to restore the people’s freedoms, equity and racial harmony but not much headway has been made since the demise of colonialism.

“The liberation struggle sought to redress the unjust land appropriation by the minority whites. While we recognise the land reform and its irreversibility, it is still sad to note that the majority of the black populace still has no access to land and those who do, still have no security of tenure which would totally emancipate them from being pliant to the Zanu PF patronage system,” the party said.

The opposition youths warned of dire consequences if the country’s social and economic troubles are not resolved as a matter of urgency.

“The continued economic deterioration will lead to the further erosion of Zanu PF’s contested legitimacy and any form of instability arising out of the people’s discontent will have far-reaching consequences not only for Zimbabwe but for the entire SADC region.

“The assembly remains concerned by the government’s inability and incapacity to address the people’s basic needs such as healthcare, education, food, water, shelter among others. One year after the elections, ZIM-ASSET remains a pipe dream.

“Thousands of people are losing their jobs every day and sinking into abject poverty while the ruling party is preoccupied with factional fights at the expense of the people and the economy,” the youths said.

The group said it supported efforts for a grand coalition of opposition parties to square off against Zanu PF in 2018 or whenever elections are to be held.