via Bulawayo24 NEWS | D-day for ‘suspended’ Morgan Tsvangirai. 17 June 2014 by Clemence Manyukwe
THE MDC renewal team has set tomorrow as the date on which opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is set to appear before a tribunal consisting of three lawyers, two from Bulawayo to answer various charges that include violating the party’s constitution.
The party’s renewal team’s national council that is led by secretary general Tendai Biti suspended Tsvangirai two months ago, pending a hearing following sharp differences that followed calls for the opposition leader to step down in squabbles triggered by the MDC-T’s heavy losses in last year’s polls.
Tsvangirai is being charged with 17 counts that include violating the party’s constitution, unilaterally joining the inclusive government in 2009 and allegedly abusing $1,5 million from the government meant for the construction of his Highlands residence following negotiations that the party was not aware of.
The MDC renewal team spokesperson Jacob Mafume confirmed the latest development too.
“The hearing is on June 18. He is aware of the charges, but he has not responded,” he said.
Mafume could not immediately reveal the panel that would try Tsvangirai, but sources said three lawyers have been identified, one from Harare and two others from Bulawayo.
Contacted for comment, MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said Tsvangirai would not attend the hearing initiated by Biti’s faction.
“President Tsvangirai cannot appear at a hearing of another party. These people have formed their own political party and there would be no hearing that he would attend,” said Mwonzora.
Tsvangirai and his former lieutenants’ now appear to have irreconcilable differences, with Biti at the weekend saying President Mugabe was a better leader than Tsvangirai.
The former Finance Minister said the MDC-T’s kitchen cabinet was useless as it had people who failed to deliver during the opposition party’s time in the inclusive government.
Tsvangirai has been losing a number of former key allies, with recent revelations showing that the party’s treasurer general Roy Bennett has since stopped fundraising for the group, amid suspicions from the former Prime Minister’s loyalists that he could be one of the main financiers’ of the renewal group.
COMMENTS
Its funny, how can Tsvangirai appear at a hearing of another party. It all shows how Biti and Co. are taking people for granted. It is now known that they have gone orange instead of the real MDC’s original red color.
Well put.
nonsense haana nyaya Biti
Biti is a man I admire but lately nothing he does makes any sense. What are they playing at with this pointless stunt?
I started doubting him when he claimed that voters were being bussed in by merely seeing a destination board written Honde Valley . I have often seen buses written Kariba along Masvingo road going in the southern direction can I therefore claim that Kariba is now in the south of the country?
Biti chidhanana chemunhu ndivo tupfana tunouraya bhasikoro manje wairasa
Biti rave biti chairo,muchaiwa chaiwo, ngaatibvire kumhepo.
He said the young voters were west africans because they were too dark.from that day i knew someting was wrong.
Biti please….why ruin your political future so easily…remember a vulture is a very patient bird…we all thought you were going to be the next President of Zimbabwe…you ran out of patience and wielded the sword like Brutus.
As an observer from distance and a non MDC member you have displayed a subtle sharp appetite for power. Where you not in the cockpit on the 31st July 2013?
Your arguments for dismissing MT are similar to those propelled by W Ncube whom you opposed to the teeth. Then why not combine forces with him, instead of creating another MDC.
Time will tell, but my gut feeling is waitaBhora mugedhi mako.
Good narrative Tsuro……tsuromagen’a is know for his wits
ZveMDC ndezvematuzvi, we just need a new party with new resolutions. Biti is busy accusing Tsvangi of unilateral decisions but there is nowhere it is written in history that Biti or whoever refused to join GNU or contest elections. Tsvangiraiwo seems to have failed to hold the party together for the second time! We simply have a leadership crisis here – we have leaders driven by selfish interest just like zanu inoti yairwira vanhu ikezvino vana vane 10 years vane mafarm! What kind of nonsense is that? We are tired of politicians who are out to milk the country dry of its resources while deceiving people that they have interests of the country at heart. Makoni ndiye chete while he was well placed for looting he chose not to – he chose prnciple ahead of selfish gain. Makoni your time to rule has come. We are with you.
dzikama mufana, bhora pasi. Ndinokuudza zvokwadi kuti yekure inosvika. Biti ne rebel team vavekuda shortcut….but mashort cuts are usually dangerous. Werenga zvanyorwa naTsuro pamusoro apo
We all loved Biti, especially in interviews he is a very focused person unfortunately he has ruined his otherwise prospective carrier. His education should have made him realise on the fate of Ncubes, Mutambaras and Dabengwas in politics. He behaved like a bee on a transparent window!
Biti s education is useless he s got no focus I have never heard tsvangirayi talking pa m..t. like he did live on radio last year manje i aids izakulingisa mfana wami.
perhaps we will find out why they wanted MT to stand down…
Biti washaya zvekutaura manje. Zviroto zviroto akati bobojani