via More bad news for the MDC-T | SW Radio Africa. 16 June 2014 by Tererai Karimakwenda
The serious infighting that led to a split in the MDC-T has continued to take its toll, as a senior official resigned his position in the Tsvangirai camp and others joined the so-called Renewal Team, led by Tendai Biti.
The Member of Parliament for Makokoba and Bulawayo Province chairperson, Gorden Moyo, submitted a letter of resignation from his position in the party on Friday, citing factionalism and violence among other issues.
The Southern Eye news site said Moyo is currently not taking sides and has refused to give up his seat in parliament, insisting this would give ZANU PF control of Bulawayo. He also said the MDC-T in its current weak state would lose a by-election to ZANU PF.
The move was immediately dismissed as a “non-event” by the MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, who referred to Moyo as a “newcomer” in that province and insisted the former Bulawayo Agenda director had not shown any leadership qualities.
This was followed by the news that the MP for Kuwadzana and former Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga, had not only resigned but had joined the Renewal Team, fronted by the former secretary general Tendai Biti.
More resignations were announced at a press conference in Manicaland on Friday, where the Manicaland provincial youth executive said they had made the “painful decision” to separate from Tsvangirai.
The Renewal spokesperson in Manicaland, Pishai Muchauraya, confirmed that the youths, led by chairman Dennis Simango, had joined their camp along with district chairpersons and national executive members from around the province. Muchauraya accused Tsvangirai of being “an enemy of democracy”.
“There are so many reasons but some are the failure by Tsvangirai to stick to the founding values of the party and the continued violation of the party constitution. The youths felt that he could therefore not be trusted with the national constitution and has become a liability,” Muchauraya explained.
He added: “He is so compromised he cannot face ZANU PF. He is staying at a ZANU PF house but at the same time trying to cheat people that he is fighting ZANU PF. So the youths felt that he is actually cheating the people.”
The former MDC-T spokesperson for Manicaland went further to accuse Tsvangirai of campaigning for another political party in the last election, saying he endorsed Simba Makoni for the seat in Makoni South, instead of the candidate that had been chosen by the party members.
But the MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, dismissed the Manicaland resignations as a “publicity stunt”, saying the youths had already left the party as far back as January this year and were only announcing it now to get publicity.
Biti himself was suspended by the MDC-T following calls to replace Morgan Tsvangirai as party president. The situation was further complicated when both sides claimed they now held parliamentary seats under the same party name.
This created a conflict in parliament that the ZANU PF speaker of the house handed over to the courts to resolve. The courts are also staffed with ZANU PF appointees, who now have to decide the fate of their opposition, as always.
COMMENTS
Let dog eat dog. MDC is too cowardly to liberate zim by the only event which will succeed. I.e. street barricades mass demonstrations student revolts social disobedience etc etc if you can’t make personal sacrifices stop whinging how you suffer. Pamberi street action
WE feel Biti has what it takes. Tsvangson had his chance and his escapades with women when we needed him most cost, not only us, but him. He has to go….come to think of it. he could have honourably tendered his resignation and became ane elder and advisor of the party. ie if he has any useful ideas. Change and renewal are a necessary evil.
It is now Tapiwa Mashakada’ s turn to leave.
Mai Matibenga and Tapiwa Mashakada has always worked with zanupf from the word go. This fact was established way back in 2004 even before Mashakada became Deputy Secretary General. Tapiwa Mashakada still works with zanupf. He has been seen on several occasions briefing Goodson Nguni in the Borrowdale area. His recent conversations with Goodson are all on tape, where he was literally downloading to Goodson the deliberations of the MDC T standing committee.
Tapiwa Mashakada has a checkered history. He has always sympathised with Zanupf from his days at the ZCTU. In 1999 Tapiwa Mashakada openly deserted his colleagues who were in the process of preparing for the formation of of the MDC and joined the constitutional commission, led by chidyausiku. He only came back to the MDC after its launch in September of 1999. His first meeting was in Gweru where he met a very hostile crowd. Since then tapiwa Mashakada has always been supplying information to the CIO through several people who run him. Now that he is fairly senior in the MDC T he has been assigned Goodson Nguni to run him.
Thanks Mandy for that.
These are repeated stories.What I know Gordon Moyo was in the renewal team from the onset and was pressurised by the youths to leave the party. The party wanted to fire him and he avoided the embarassment by voluntarily resigning.
Hinda vemapepa muchida kuvhundutsira vanhu,nyaya dzakasobuda kudhara ndidzo dzamunochinja maheadings zvobva zvanyorwa sekunge hameno
Mdc-t should also focus in shunning devisive policecy especial of Women reseveation seats and must be youth oriented coz every or oppotunity is always given to old ones
These fights only help ZANU PF to be a better party. Palms! Palms to CIO, despite the fact that I hate ZANU PF to the core!
I agree MT should have resigned long ago and become an advisor of sorts , his desire to hold on at all costs has ultimately cost the party and ordinary Zimbo’s will pay for it.
Good riddance
This is very good news indeed, for not only the people of Mthwakazi but Zimbabweans in general.
We were about to replace one anti-Mthwakazi/Ndebele tribalistic outfit of Robert Mugabe with just another similar anti-Mthwakazi/Ndebele outfit of Morgan Tswangirayi. The Gods have heard our cries.
This desperation to get rid of Mugabe is leading people into making stupid decisions from which they will never recover!!