via RadioVop Zimbabwe – Civic Society Groups Condemn Tsvangirai Leadership March 10 2014
Civic society groups have condemned MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai for the “undemocratic way” he has handled the leadership battle between him and party stalwart, Elton Mangoma.
Mangoma was suspended from the party on Friday on bribery and factionalism charges after he wrote a letter to Tsvangirai suggesting he should step dowm as party leader.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition coordinator Mcdonald Lewanika told The Zimbabwe Mail that Tsvangirai’s reaction to calls for his resignation had shown a lack of understanding of issues.
“Politically, strategically and even socially, the decision to come down on Mangoma for suggesting that the president (Tsvangirai) steps-down for the political longevity and future success of the MDC-T was not strategic. It shows a lack of understanding and appreciation of the greater good, that while we all sacrifice for the greater good, sometimes for the greater good to be achieved, we need to sacrifice ourselves,” Lewanika said.
ZimRights director Okay Machisa weighed in and said there was too much protection of political power in the MDC-T.
“There is no democracy in these political parties and I wonder why it is called the Movement for Democratic Change. People are being intimidated, there is no freedom of speech and too much protection of political power. There is little respect for differing opinions and democracy is at the periphery of this party,” said Machisa.
He said while Tsvangirai, a one-time nominee of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize award may have deserved to be nominated at the time, he needed a reminder.
“At that time, Tsvangirai probably deserved that recognition but things have changed and he needs a reminder of the values that took him to those heights. He needs someone to remind him that he can still lead a democratic movement that practices democracy and not just talk about it,” Machisa said.
Maxwell Saungweme, another civil society activist and socio-political commentator, said Tsvangirai had been exposed as “a poor leader”.
“Tsvangirai and his clique are dealing with the issue in a very wrong way. They could have easily ignored that issue or have it discussed more decently without violence and unconstitutional suspension of Mangoma. The handling of this issue really shows that there is lack of democratic leadership within the MDC-T, which is an irony!
“The way the issue is unfolding is exposing Tsvangirai as a very poor leader who can’t deal with dissent,” said Saungweme adding “Tsvangirai and his cohorts have also shown that they don’t really care about the ordinary people of Zimbabwe or those people that died or were maimed by the regime since 2000 for supporting the MDC”.
He questioned the MDC-T’s holding of rallies “yet there is no imminent general election”.
“They should be busy proffering alternative solutions to the current crisis facing the country than holding rallies to try and demonstrate that Tsvangirai is more popular than Mangoma”.
However, Crisis Coalition board chairperson Dewa Mavhinga argued civil society needed to let the MDC-T solve its internal strife.
“My view is that civil society has no business being involved in internal factional party politics. Civil society must jealously guard its autonomy, independence and neutrality.
“It is only where fundamental values are violated, such as in cases of political violence, that civil society must speak out but from a neutral platform,” said Mavhinga.
COMMENTS
The problem with civic society in Zim is that they jus go with the flow. the problem here is not tsvangirai but a small clique of clowns who think they are powerful than the ordinary people on the street if tsvangirai has to go coz he lost the election each and every top executive including mangoma and biti must go also because they were part of the mdc team that was responsible for the election, biti as the s.g crafted the manifetso which he now criticize and mangoma ws responsible for financing the campaign which he poorly did. how then ws morgan going to win if the campaign was poorly financed and the s.g does not believe in the manifesto he crafted.
the so called civics must focus on matters tht concern them such as humanitarian issues eg tokwe mukosi and leave the mdc to deal with the rot in its own way. if the mdc is not democratic let mangoma and biti form their party and for God’s sake do these civics know anything about the elective congress.
When politics becomes the only means to satisfy one’s hunger, which politician will willingly pass his plate to someone else?
Truly a Movement for Direction less Congress. The rudder is locked in a turn.
People let congress decide. Point is Mangoma and Biti are undemocratic power hungry political sellouts. Why not firm their own party and see what happens? Idiots.
suspend all the anti officials then go to congress, whose undemocratic?
aw Zimbabwe, are you saying it is democratic to use violence to silence dissenting voices?
Machisa says that Tsvangirai can still lead a democratic movement. These people are funny. Next they will tell us that RG Mugabe can do the same.
Leaders of political parties are not changed in a letter, they are changed at a correctly composed congress. MDC was going to remain with no leader upon Zanu Pf influenced Mangoma writing to MT and MT says “yes, I resign”. Mangoma missed his plot, and civic groupd are entitled to their opinions. Importantly, Mangoma knows pretty well how and what proceedures must be followed in the selection of leaders in his organisation. If he doesn’t know, his ignorance is no excuse. MT did not refuse to step dow he found the proceedure followed unproceedural. The disciplinary hearing, which mangoma will take a lawyer of his choice, will inform him where he aired, and he will challenge it. If he come up as a winner, then welcome back, if he doesn’t then tough lucky. Secondly, MT has a choice to choose a group of people who he can work with and those who no longer fit into the category. Hence prof Ncube, Job Sikala, Priscilla Miisihairambiki Mushonga etc were no longer best fit. They were free to leave, they moved on. Whethe they succeeded out there is neveer the point. If Mangoma finds himself unfit, pick up your bags and go.
Question, Jenandebvu; You say that Mangoma violated the MDC constitution by suggesting, in a letter that Tsvangirai needed to pass the baton for failing the party. Does the party constitution say that violence should be meted out to anyone who suggests a change of leadership before a congress? What does the constitution say about a leader who is clearly not up to the task? That he should be allowed to continue inflicting damage to the party till the next congress irrespective of how long it is before it is due?
The other question is, why has Tsvangirai addressed the pertinent issues raised by Mangoma?
Mangoma should follow the correct procedure simple.
Leadership should be changed constitutionally. People should not just walk up from the bed and call for leadership change willy-nilly. Mangoma and company should wait for congress.
MDC will become like MDC Ncube the moment Tsvangirai leaves. there are times when dictatorial tendencies are good in a democratic leader, like now in MDC T. if mangoma was a good leader he would have convinced Tsvangirai to change course at the appropriate time, in the spirit of the team. it is funny that he says Tsvangirai failed to win elections three times, where was he? MDC failed and MDC must fix their jinx with mangoma. there has not been one educated individual in zim who has done what Tsvangi has done. when the kitchen gets hot they all retire to their professional refuge. munoda kuti Tsvangi ayende kupi? cry the beloved country.
Wareva hama yangu. Kuda kuita van mucheka dzafa
The bad part of this is people suffers most. Sometimes people are being mislead to believe that what is wrong is good while they don’t know , to all those supporters of Mr Morgan Tsvangirai should ask this question , what coarse of action , is their leader going to apply in an election field to win votes ,secondly, they had been putting their entrusted & loyal support to Morgan Tsvangirai on behalf of Mdc, , the reason was for the anticipation of change , so did the change came or is it going to come , they should brain storm this idiology people don’t hate Mr Tsvangirai , but they detest to se a government that had brought , total suffering , chaos, corruption & incompetence & the same , they wish to have an opposition leader who have the guts not to be outwitted.
With pretenders like Biti and Mangoma, any wonder why MDC failed to win the so many number of times it tried? Today its Morgan who has failed 3 times, ignoring that the whole lot actually failed him. What can one man do? Its becoming clear that Morgan alone was never going to unseat evil. Sadly he was surrounded by evil men who were into this for money and fame.
It does not pay to be educated in Zimbabwe. People cannot comprehend simple basics like Mangoma writing a letter instead of engaging the relevant channels. You want Mangoma ‘s wish to be respected against that of all MDC T members who still want Tsvangirai. Democracy yaMangoma naBiti ndiyo yamunoda against that of the whole of Zimbabwe ?
With the current fiasco in the ruling party, you now know what democracy in politics is all about. Focus on your core business instead of digressing. Tsvangirai is now vindicated. Two negotiators selling out and you still wanted him to keep them ? What rank madness. Asingadi MDC T ngaafome yake. Inga Sikhala and Ncube did it wani ?