via Opposition MDC-T rocked by dissent | SW Radio Africa by Tichaona Sibanda November 8, 2013
Three months after facing his shock electoral defeat at the hands of Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF, MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai is finding himself in unfamiliar territory, his party rocked by dissent and facing stronger calls to step down as leader.
The combination of internal dissent against Tsvangirai, as well as serious efforts by his political opponents to organise an early congress to oust him, come amid early strategising for the 2018 polls.
Whether the opposition party can iron out its differences and fend off growing challenges to Tsvangirai’s continued leadership one thing is clear; Tsvangirai still enjoys massive grassroots support and will be difficult to dislodge.
Sources have told SW Radio Africa that Tsvangirai is not against an early congress but is worried its outcome could leave the party deeply divided.
However party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora quashed reports the party might entertain the possibility of having an early congress next year to deal with the leadership question.
He said calls for an early congress were coming from a small minority of people and that it does not bother them, as party members are entitled to express their views.
‘We are a democratic party and people can say what they want as long as it is said at the correct forums. Unfortunately the issue of early congress was settled by the national executive, standing committee and national council which are the governing organs of the party.
‘The three bodies were unanimous that congress will be held as scheduled in 2016. At that congress anybody who wishes to contest for any position is free to do that,’ Mwonzora said.
Many in the MDC’s top leadership at provincial level have told us that if the party is to remain relevant, the founding president should remain at the helm of the party.
‘Tsvangirai should be left to decide what is good for the party. He is the only individual who can decide to step down at the 2016 congress or continue as leader if he gets re-elected. The man has grassroots support that is unparalleled by anybody in the combined opposition,’ a Midlands based MDC-T MP said.
Political commentator Itai Dzamara told us it is too early to suggest the party may lose the next election unless genuine efforts are made to reconcile the aggrieved members or have a leadership renewal.
‘The challenges facing the party cannot be underestimated but should remain optimistic, that the MDC-T is capable of righting the ship and fight to win the next elections,’ Dzamara said.
The latest rift has been in the making for months, with one faction within the party opposed to Tsvangirai’s leadership. This has seen several members believed to be plotting their own run against the party leader.
COMMENTS
This is not about the popularity of Tsvangirai, it’s about the principle that MDC is all about, Democracy.Tsvangirai has had his time/term his used by date expired 1 term ago.He is abusing democracy. After all who is so stupid as to assert that a 3 times loser is popular. Where is a loser popular except in the press. The author of this artlcle should have said that Tsvangirai is popular in. losing elections not amongst the electorate.Tsvangirai will definately lose 2018 elctions with Mugabe or without Mugabe contesting. He is a lucky TEA BOY elevated by luck.He cannot change his pathetic loser mentality.We all know that all his bad decisions have resulted in our current predicament.I say life under Smith was better and so wasife before Tsvangirai.In the mind of most Zimbabweans Tsvangirai is an epitome of failure.Anywhere even if he stays MDC is damaged goods.
If you say Tsvangirayi is not popular with the people where do you come from. Its you who does not like him. Tsvangirayi won 2 elections but Mugabe denied him the victory. Tsvangirayi the darling of his supporters. This tea boy saying is for people like you who dislike him as a person. But I think its your problem not ours.
Won which 2 elections, be real the current president of Zimbabwe is Mugabe even if you or me didn’t vote Mugabe. The events on the ground do not suggest that Tsvangirai won. No one believes Zanu rigged the elections except the MDC leadership and that is to be expected when one loses an election. There is no vibe with Morgan right now, he no longer inspires any hope or struggle thats why the MDC needs to find a new leader.
Shame on you Zanu worm who has entered into the just to confuse them well you can only confuse those who want to be confused. Tsvangirai has never lost an election it who people from zanu who have been sent to boggle people’s minds. Until we find a strategy outst sekuru first then we can talk about tswangirai. for yo information tsvangirai needs people who are honest in what they do not about looking for new leader. what makes you think changing a leader at this junjure will make zanu accept defeat. tanga marwisa honye yakapinda mumba muzodzinga baba. zanu inoziwa kuti makapusa saka muine dambudziko rekutsvaga mutungamiri wonai sekuru wachipo nazvino dai wanga wasipo zanu ingadai tisingachaizivi. tangai masenzesa misoro yenyu yakazara nenhafu. mubvisei muzoona anokuteverai
Senior Citzen
Sinaine zvamurikutaura hapana asingazive chokwadi if u are mazimbos chaiwo
Janto and Thembani only opened both their eyes and ears post July 31 2013. Sekuru vakazvamburwa kanokwana kaviri. Poshi, vakaramba kuti vainge vatsokotwa, kepiri madhumasta navose vaigona kunyora hunzi ngavabatsirwe. Mazita ainge asimo muvoters role. Nanhasi RG havasati vaburitsa electronic voters role. Justice Chinembiri Bhunu voti Mt. Pleasant ballot boxes dzivhurwe iyoZEC yototsvaga lawyer to fight that order. Kuzeza chatikwatara hunge uine katurike.
Here is the problem: “‘Tsvangirai should be left to decide what is good for the party. He is the only individual who can decide to step down at the 2016 congress or continue as leader if he gets re-elected. The man has grassroots support that is unparalleled by anybody in the combined opposition,’ a Midlands based MDC-T MP said.”
Tsvangirai goes into an election without verifying the voters roll which he knew was already rigged with assistance from NIKUV, the Chinese and one company in South Africa. How can any sensible voter let Tsvangirai be left to decide what is good for the party? He is not bigger than the party and should not be allowed to be bigger than the party. He has already made too many stupid errors of judgment and that is precisely why he finds his party and the country in the position it is today.
Tsvangirai is the face of MDC , look @ Welshman Ncube and company they thot by having Gibson Sibanda they will be strong. Tsvangira is here to stay.
As much as I admire the man for his courage and tenacity, he has peaked and it can only be downhill from now till 2018.
The truth is that with or without the former Prime Minister Tsvangirai, MDC(even withoutT), the party has to look for another leader. It is sad that seemingly sane adults worst their time to dwell on a “finished” leader who is struggling to remain relevant in Zimbabwe’s political landscape.
Zim politics are stupid, backward and evil.
Young generation must always encourage a culture of leaders stepping down.
Look at Madhuku, he would rather change the objectives of NCA for him to stay at its helm.
Mugabe, Mutambara, Tsvangirai all have good reasons why they hold onto power but those reasons are they really.
Crying rigged elections can not be used as an excuse any longer.
Simple matter is, someone slept on duty.
What are you doing about it NOW?
Gloating over the demise of the economy since it can’t be rigged isn’t an action.
MDC WILL BE HISTORY
The mdc party with this type of political amnesia wont survive 2018 elections, they will be decimated.
Instead of introspecting themselves,getting to the reason of why the performed dismally,they always point to vote rigging
MDC lost the elections because they agreed to be ruled by Mugabe even after losing elections,agreeing to coalition govt,compromising on GLOBAL POLITICAL AGREEMENT,deploying all senior leadership in cabinet ,imposing of canditates ,capitalist manifesto and lastly sleeping on the pedal and gravey train
Education without production at its worst!!!!!!!So if you say Tsvangirai must step down you are accepting defeat.If you are genuine members calling for democracy you must first make serious demands and demand voters roll , go to Mudede and Makarau and demand electoral voters roll.Here is aman who have a history of winning elections but being robbed in daylight.In 2008 he won openly and we Zimbabweans were tested our patients by delaying results.Who went to the streets?What guarantee is there that who ever contests is not going to be rigged? We are sick of this call for Tsvangirai, Mafilkizolos are funding it, after so many years in Europe, the pastures are turning yellow and now you want to tell us to remove the one and tested.That will never ever happen, I tell you.Tell Mugabe first to go and change electoral laws.Talk of armchair politics who just waffle after an event.You don’t know test the depth of the river by looking from its banks.You get into the middle, most of us will get feasted by crocodile with only on leg in the water.Lets demand REFORMS now and stop this senseless, armchair, unedudated call for Save to go.
Please do not tell us.We are going to the congress where the core business is going to be discussed.Look at ZANU PF, it is rigging itself.So what more of national elections? Do people really know the power hierarchy in Zimbabwe? It starts with policemen , who can even smash windscreens of taxis, what an abuse of power.Pedestrians look and laugh instead of protesting verbally.This saying Tsvangirai is no longer relevant is really empty,play the drum and we can rate you.Human rights abuses in Zimbabwe are at its worst and truly speaking WOZA women really deserve an international award.They have remained resolute and they protest.I will accept any form of criticism from WOZA not others who never tested countless button sticks, sleeping in lice infested cells.2018 is a cracker, all is in shape.All mafikizolos are flushed out.Lets not have frustrations over elections, it was done and those who are clever now , please you could have been clever before the elections.That the thing about analyising, you tall after it happens
People save wil never rule this country he is devoid of ideas that wil take this country forward. His tenure in the just ended disfunctional inclusive gvt exposed his ineptude thats why he and his mdc lost 2 tha revolutionary party. Thank god save and his md2 have been relegated 2 tha dustbins of history
Vese vanemutauro wekuti T-BOY taakutoziva kwamakacherwa kunedzinde rekutuka taakukuziva so it’s a waist of tym to talk 2 u
mogiza akapenga uye is there for the pple.Hatide mumwe kunze kwake chete.
It is my humble opinion that Zanu is more terrified with Tsvangson than any one else. Is it kindness from Mugabe at every funeral tell MDC to remove an uneducated person and put someone with degrees. The fox Mugabe has dribbled so many but not this Buffalo-Tsvangson. MDC will be naïve to change to a “professor” at this stage of the game.
Remember Nkomo,Hamadzirpi,Sithole,Muzorewa,Tekere,Dumbutchena, Zvobgo,Chikerema,Chitepo, Dongo etc have been outfoxed by Ngwazi Mugabe-Karigamombe.
It is my conviction that Tsvangson, though very imperfect, has the character, stubbornness and stamina to fight thugs like ZANU and Mugabe.
Remember this is a struggle against a tyranny regime, and it may take years, and changing the queen of the hive will not be prudent, and will only lead to the scattering of the children and prolong the struggle.
You are either naïve or stupid or probably living in a fantasy land not to notice that he has outfoxed him 3 times.
The others you mentioned fought Mugabe in his prime when he was probably hero worshiped world wide. Unlike now when he is just a dying horse with a body riddled by cancer and other age related diseases and an economy that is none existant.
Your sickness is hero worship.
Tsvangirais lack of education and strategic thinking has been his downfall.
Tsvangirai is the MAN! Those calling for his ouster must go to Zanu. They desparately need members.
What I find disheartening is for supposedly mdc t supporters joining mugabe and zpf choruses for tsvangson to go. What is disappointing is these mdc t officials are turning a blind eye to e rigging that took place. At this point all efforts shd be understand how e elections where stolen. It therefore makes us doubt if these pple vocal abt Tsvangson must go are not zpf infiltrators. Yes Tsvangson cost us a lot 1st by signing e 1 sided gpa, 2ndly by joining e gnu, 3rdly by sprucing up mugabe’s image during e gnu era, 4thly by participating in e last elections despite massive evidence of open rigging etc. Having said this 1 wonders why these officials let e party go into elections + some of them like Kay and Mudzuri contested as candidates? Why didn’t they pull out? The issue is about all officials pulling in 1 direction and wait for e next congress in 2016 when it will due. From e look of things there are some senior officials who were working agst e party so that it loses and try to hijack it. Such officials shd go to zapu cos dabengwa made it clear on 2 seperate occasions that he is proud of having foiled tsvangson march to state house in 2008. Some can go to nca cos madhuku worked overtime to aid zpf. Some can go to mutambara. They’re never in short of political homes to fyt tsvangirai even in zpf they will be gladly accepted and red carpet will be rolled for them. We seen it w e Knight issue recently and Jonathan Moyo, Maziwwisa, Rugare Gumbo, Olivia muchena etc b4 who were staunch anti zpf ppl bt are now more than e party itself
Danisa i think its you who is a big fool.Who is educated in Zimbabwe?What are the standards of education for you to say you are educated.You are one of the many fools who always walk saying they are educated but they cant even construct a small village bridge with wooden poles.What do you know of strategy ? Where were you when MDC addressed thousands and thousands? Politics if for the chosen ones, hate him Save, even with your meaningless degrees ,can not even stand up against the regime.Thats why Tino said meaningless education.Wake up fool.I am saying this coz you just call others stupid when they give their views
WE CAN ALL TALK ALL WE CAN, REASON AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND IMPLY AND EMPLORE ALL WE CAN BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS ZIMBABWE IS DECAYING AND DYING A VERY PAINFUL DEATH. THAT IS THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. PEOPLE CAN CLAIM HEE TSVANGIRAYI HEE TSVANGIRAYI IS THIS AND THAT BUT THE TRUTH IS ZIMBABWE IS DECAYING AND DYING.
YES IT IS THOSE WHO ARE BASKING IN FADED GLORY AND COSMETIC FANTASY SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY GOTTEN ,GOT OR WERE GIVEN A NOW DERELICT AND UNPRODUCTIVE FARM MEANT TO BE OF BENEFIT TO THE PEOPLE, OWNS JAPANESE CARS AND OWNS PORSCHE SURBURB(S) IN THE LOW DENSITY AREAS, ARE BUT NAIVE. LOOK, WHAT BENEFITS A MAN WHEN HE GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD BUT LOSES HIS SOUL? WHAT IS IT THAT STRIKES IN YOUR MIND WHEN YOU DRIVE YOUR PORSCHE CAR IN DIRTY RAGGED ROADS FULL OF POTHOLES? WHAT MARVELS YOU WHEN THE COUNRTRY IS ALWAYS PLUNGED IN DARKNESS AND THE ONLY LIGHT IS THAT FROM A GENERATOR YOU ACQUIRED FROM SOUTH AFRICA? WHAT THRILLS YOU WHEN YOU HAVE TO SCROUNGE FOR FOOD FROM ZAMBIA? IT IS A SHAME AND IS SHAMEFUL.
I THINK ITS TIME FOR ZIMBABWEANS TO TAKE A DEEPER INWARD LOOK INTO THEMSELVES AND WITH REVERENCE AND WITH A CLEAR MIND AND CONSCIENCE AND SAY WHAT EXACLY AM I WORTH? AM I A BUTT LICKER WHO LICKS THE CHEF BUTTS TO GET SOMETHING AND IS PROUD OF IT.LOOK, THERE ARE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE WHO FORSOOK EVERYTHING THEY HAD TO FIGHT FOR PRINCIPLES THAT NO MAN IS GREATER THAN THE OTHER. TRUE REVOLUTIONARES WHO SACRIFICED FOR OTHERS AND NOT FOR THEMSELVES LIKE THIS CROP IN POWER.THAT WHICH IS JUST IS JUST AND EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO LIVE A LIFE OF HIS CHOICE NOT THAT WHICH IS IMPOSED BY THE CONNECTED OR THE POWERFUL. I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO ENJOY EVERY RESOURCE GIVEN TO ME BY GOD IN MY GOD GIVEN COUNTRY AND I SHOULD LIVE IN MY COUNTRY OF BIRTH WITHOUT FEAR OR REMORSE. ZIMBABWE BELONGS TO ME JUST AS IT BELONGS TO MUGABE TOO AND ANYBODY ELSE.
SO WHEN WE SEE INJUSTICE PERPERTUATED BY THOSE IN POWER I APPLAUD THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST IT NOT THOSE WHO SAY AND SING PRAISES TO INHUMANE TREATMENT OF ITS CITIZENS. TSVANGIRAI MAY HAVE MADE MISTAKES HERE AND THERE AND WE DONT CONDONE HIS MISTAKES BUT HE HAD THE CONSCIENCE AND GUTS TO FIGHT FOR THAT WHICH IS RIGHT THOUGH HIS METHODS AND WAYS MAYBE QUESTIONABLE BUT HE HAD GUTS AND HE STOOD UP WHERE NOONE DARED STAND NOR TRADE -CHALLENGING INJUSTICE AND CORRUPTION AND DICTATORSHIP. WE HAVE YET TO FIND ONE WHO CAN STAND UP AND CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO. IT IS NOT ABOUT TSVANGIRAYI. IT IS ABOUT ZIMBABWE AND ANYONE WHO IS TRUE TO ZIMBABWE ONE WHO YEARNS FOR THE EQUALITY OF MANKIND AND A QUALITY WAY OF LIFE FOR ALL ZIMBABWEANS NOT JUST FOR A FEW AND CONNECTED. NO ZIMBABWE BELONGS TO ALL ZIMBABWEANS AND NOT JUST A FEW WHOSE BACKGROUNDS IS SKEWED AND MIRRED IN SHOUDINESS, GREED, HOSTILITY,MURDEROUS AND ABJECT INCOMPETENT PERFORMANCE. IF NO=ONE CAN STAND UP STRAIGHT AND TRUE TO ZIMBABWE THEN WITH TSVANGIRAYI ALUTA CONTINUA.
These MDC T people are very funny, the way they talk and celebrate the problems in our Green machine the MDC, you would think all is well within their ranks.
They lost elections, but they talk as if it is only our party that lost. They are not in government simply because they lost. Admit and stop fooling yourselves.
Basazonya lozihlathi wabo lowu. Abayiboni ngani ukuthi lento lithunzi elimnyama elehlele ilizwe.
Akulamahluko lokhu lo Mgabe!
tswangirai MUST GO!!!!!
Once beaten twice shy they say.Does one need to be beaten three times to learn?Tsvangirai 3 beatings and still wants more.Those people who keep saying Tsvangirai is popular prove it.All I see is a fat toad with brains in his dick.
What election was lost by MDC? To imply there was a credible election in Zimbabwe is duplicity at its worst. The elections were a circus. Where in the world can you conduct an election without a credible voters’ roll which is accessible to everyone who needs it? Where in the world have you seen ballots being printed in army barracks and you talk about elections kiss your a..
Thembani u sound like a true zpf. Which elections w e name elections ar u talking abt? To me e only credible elections ever held in Zim from 2000 are e March 2008 cos they were generally free and free and Mugabe was soundly beaten that’s he delayed presidential results for 5 weeks yet general results were announced timeously. The last “elections” was in fact a stage managed drama. Even if Dabengwa was popular still zpf was going to do what they dd. What makes u think if Tsvangson is replaced by yo favourite this is going to stop zpf from rigging? Whatever that new leader is going to do why ddnt he influenced that decision? I maintain all efforts shd be made to expose how exactly were elections rigged starting w e 2000 ones and how best can that be countered. This doesn’t require e mdc t only bt all political parties maybe w e exception of Kisnot’s and zapu only. The fact that other political parties are silent abt this rigging things means either they doubt their capacity to win any future elections so y worry or they’re in agreement w zpf that the elections were free and fair bt it shd be noted that not even international body that observed e last “elections” used e word to fair to describe them. Its for this reason that we agn c in Tsvangirai a hero, e only 1 who can stand up to zpf cos every1 else is silent and in fact each time they open their mouth they castigate and denigrate him leaving mugabe and his zpf which makes us think all are fyting in mugabe’s corner. Any1 who shows total commitment to fyt zpf is a hero to Zimbos manje other mdc t officials are competing w mugabe and zpf to bring down Tsvangson. If all e energy they’re putting and resources spent in plotting agst Tsvangirai was directed at plotting agst mugabe surely these politicians wld have bn our darlings
Chematama for life!!!!!!!Zanoid is pushing the agenda instead of retiring their old tired and clueless leader on the future of Zim
Why MDC-T people go to town about the risgnation in the MDC and Priscilla yet they have they own internal problems of this magnitude?
A big clap to zanu for infiltrating and successfully causing dissent in the Opposition. Mired with their own demons and struggling to come to terms with their fraudelent victory, Zanupf has thrown a bone for the MDC to busy itself with. Pity the likes of Mudzuri and Biti seem to be buying into it. No problem folks with your habouring political ambitions but doing so at the whims of Zanupf is agent-provocatour. Shame on you guys, hamuna respect makaita sei nhubu dzevanhu. Kukurerai nemukaka nhasi mofuma mavekuda kuruma mdhara wedu. Hamunyare!!!!!