Biti, Mangoma deny rivalry, blast Ex-PM

via Biti, Mangoma deny rivalry, blast Ex-PM 31 August 2014

MDC Renewal Team leaders Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma have denied falling out over the leadership of the opposition outfit as they upped attacks on “struggle obstacle” and former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Biti, Mangoma and other leaders of the fledgling opposition movement were in Masvingo Sunday where they addressed youths and students as they continue to establish structures ahead of a congress scheduled for early next year.

The group moved away from the Tsvangirai-led MDC-T party after the former premier refused to step down and allow a process of “leadership renewal”.

Biti said Tsvangirai had demonstrated, since assuming leadership of the MDC-T at its formation in 1999, that he was a specialist in failure with no ideas about how to depose President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party.

“We cannot be part and parcel of a party (MDC-T) that has a belief system and values that we do not agree with. We say no! We cannot allow a situation where a leader is treated as some kind of a Messiah or a biblical Moses,” said Biti.

“He (Tsvangirai) has lost six elections but he is not even ashamed of that. He is a specialist in failure and is clueless on how to solve problems affecting this country.

“Only the Renewal Team has the capacity to take this country forward and we will form the next government.”

“He was a very weak leader and does not have anything new to offer to Zimbabweans. Politically Tsvangirai is finished and will never resurrect.

Legislator and former MDC-T youth leader Solomon Madzore drew attention to the MDC-T leader’s many dalliances quipping that Tsvangirai’s sole competence was in flirting with women.

“Tsvangirai is like a person who upon realising that his vehicle is boiling starts checking the number plate. The man has no clue at all about what is needed to take this country forward,” he said.

Meanwhile, the weekly Standard newspaper claimed there were tensions in the party between Biti and Mongoma over the leadership of the movement.

“Others are campaigning for Biti while others are backing Mangoma. Those on the Biti camp include Solomon Madzore who is the youth assembly president and acting organising secretary while others are going for Mangoma.”

But Mangoma, who was the first dissenter to publicly ask Tsvangirai to step down, insisted there were no tensions adding he was ready to serve in any capacity.

“No dates have been set for the congress and there is no campaigning going on. This party is about democracy and not personal ambition and I’m ready to serve the party in any capacity,” he said.

“One of the things about this party is that we don’t want the big man politics so all persons interested can offer themselves or the members can also nominate people to positions.”

Party spokesman Jacob Mafume also downplayed reports of rivalry between Madzore and Promise Mkwananzi over the leadership of the youth wing.

“If people have ideas, those ideas should be raised and we will have our congress in March 2015 where all positions are open. I don’t think canvassing has started.”

“We are preparing for our Congress that is going to be held next year. Slowly but surely we are going ahead with the building of our party,” he said.