via Biti expelled from MDC-T and early Congress in October | SW Radio Africa by Tichaona Sibanda on Tuesday, April 29, 2014
MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti has been expelled from the party following his weekend ‘plot’ to oust party leader Morgan Tsvangirai in a ‘palace coup.’
Biti’s deputy secretary-general, Tapiwa Mashakada, has been appointed the acting secretary-general until October this year when the party holds an early Congress to elect its new national leadership for the next five years.
Biti’s renewal team met at Mandel training centre in Harare on Saturday and resolved to suspend Tsvangirai and six top officials for ‘fascist’ tendencies and failing to oust ZANU PF leader President Robert Mugabe. However at a meeting of the national council held at Harvest House, the party headquarters on Tuesday, the MDC-T council members voted to expel Biti.
Party chairman Lovemore Moyo said 162 out of 167 members in attendance voted in favour of the motion to expel Biti in terms of article 2 of their party constitution.
Nine MPs who attended the Biti meeting will be recalled from Parliament. The MPs include Biti (Harare East) Willas Madzimure (Kambuzuma), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo, KweKwe), Solomon Madzore (Dzivarasweka) and Paul Madzore (Glen View South). All other members who attended the Saturday meeting, like suspended deputy-treasurer-general Elton Mangoma and youth assembly secretary-general Promise Mkwananzi, have also been expelled.
The MDC-T, sensing that the renewal camp might contest the convening of the meeting on Tuesday, went as far as recording proceedings on video, took photos of all delegates and had a register all of bona fide members of the council who attended the crucial meeting.
Addressing a press conference, Tsvangirai told journalists that the move to expel Biti does not constitute a split, but that they are individuals who decided to form their own party taking into account their actions on Saturday.
He said Mangoma and Biti have not personally betrayed him but the people of Zimbabwe. The media briefing was attended by Theresa Makone, Thokozani Khupe, Jameson Timba, Dr Henry Madzorera, Morgan Komichi, Nelson Chamisa and Mashakada, all members of Tsvangirai’s cabinet in the government of national unity.
A large crowd gathered outside Harvest House and at the end of the press conference the deputy national organizing secretary, Abednico Bhebhe, announced Biti’s expulsion to the crowd, sparking cheers and celebrations.
What happens now, no one knows, but this feud could end up in court.
Journalist and social commentator Tapiwa Gomo told SW Radio Africa’s Speak Out Padare program that the fresh crisis in the MDC-T is a manifestation of a natural process where different interest groups are beginning to emerge and showing their differences to the other faction.
He said the MDC has always been a coalition of people who are against ZANU PF, but differed ideologically in the way they approached politics.
COMMENTS
Tsvangirai was suspeded, it foolish for him to suspend anyone.MDc is not his personal property. ZANU courts will end this madness or Someone please call for an inclusive party congress to finish this confusion once and for all.
ZANU courts???? ha! ha! ha!
Biti must form his own party. He is clueless and cant stand on his own
Biti is politically clueless and a chaff easily carried away by wind. Thembani, u are just like that. Can’t u smell their power hungryness?
Nodi I personally believe Zimbabwe’s politicians are mostly clueless. lets start with the party that been at the helm of destruction for 34 years
Was the congress date waiting for Biti to fired? This shows some are scared of competition. Time to look elsewhere!!!
All this confirms how popular MT is and indeed he is still the people’s choice. Why not do it the right way mangoma, biti and company.
I guess these guys(Biti and co) messed up by deciding to jump the gun. They could have waited for the party’s congress. I might be wrong but I reckon they are now destined for political oblivion. The unemployed town fellows and the rustic chorus still believe in MT. In fact he is the only known element in Zimbabwean opposition politics. Even the president knows that that is why he never wastes his energy at public gatherings talking about Ncube, Dabengwa or Makoni. Mark my words these guys are going to be the Tounganas of 2018. Kkkkkk.
This is all ZPF needs, for these idiots to keep squabbling amongst themselves.
It all started with Tsvangirai in 2005, and discourse will never end with suffering in our land being given a big lift…..These guys think their personal endeavours are more important than the masses…Zanu has an upper hand with a cracked MDC….
Biti, Mangoma & co should learn from seasoned politicians, eg in ZANU PF, ANC and others. They must learn to wait for the opportune time and use congresses and/or other party constitutional means to climb to the top, not to jump the gun.
Even if Morgan has to go, he must be voted out, not to be pushed down the cliff. I’m sure Biti & co, given a chance could even poison Tsvangirai just for the sake of power.
Only if Morgan had not adopted an undemocratic stance to dispute pro senate vote with the party in 2005 which caused a plit and a meaningless one because the same Morgan ended up participating in the sanate elections….bonus to Zanu, thanks to Morgan…was it not because of that split Mugabe could have been History…before 2013 elections Morgan said he would step down he he lost but did he do so, arguably he myt say we were rigged but all the same what about the future of the party…we can’t have 15 years with one leader, half the years Mugabe has been in reign of Zanu PF…..bad for internal democracy. Yes Biti jumped the gun, they should have had patience and wait for congress but patience when after 15 years of closely working together seing that your fellow comrade is not leading you out of the wilderness is difficult to bear. Remember how Eric Matinenga resigned, the struggle and direction of the opposition has been compromised. We have young and older potential members who can take on leadership without mentioning names. ANC of South Africa gives a good example, leadership should rotate to instill democracy in the party. These developments only saves as a blessing to ZANU PF, personally I am disappointed for I have all my family dead due to ZANU PF political violence and the only option I thought could save to see a new day of democracy is continously deteriorating.
It has been said before but it bears repeating – there are very few if any decent politicians in Zimbabwe. The same can be said of true leaders which includes those in the private sector. Many may dispute this but just look around at the mess the whole country is in & ask yourself why. The wise ones have left.
that spells doom for Biti and his colleagues what a waste. It would have better for these guys to learn from Munyaradzi Gwisai
This doesn’t spell doom on individuals but the nation as a whole. This struggle should not be personalised, we are all in it to set our nation free. Only if we decist fron that thinking that Morgan is the only one who can stand ZANU PF, we can grow and move towards democratisation of our Zimbabwean political spheres.
MDC won three elections, yet never ruled for one day. What kind of leadership allows themselves to be tricked and duped in this way? The Unity Government was a joke and all among the MDC who willingly participated in it do not deserve the peoples’ trust. New leaders, with the courage to topple the dictator, MUST be found.
The rebels, Biti and Co., were the strategists of MDC-T and yet they blame Tsvangirai for all the failures. This is hypocrisy at its worst – just to follow Bennet because of the money?
When Zanu-PF praises you (Biti & Co.), you must know that something is wrong.
Folded Arms is trying desperately to think of any achievement politically or otherwise that the MDC has made since its inception………………..Folded Arms is getting a headache.
Biti is the real deal.Tsvangirai is finished.The expulsion, is a joke.
The truth is that this whole charade is the best favour any member of the opposition could possibly have given to ZANU pf at this critical time, albeit by virtue of absolute confusion and leadership vacuum. Munopenga mese!! Headless chickens, people are not only suffering, but they are actually dying!!! Where to now???
Good news as this now means the MDC T is finished. Just what Bob wants, but maybe now we will see a new party emerge that will sweep the nation and bring together all the RIGHT people to lead. Arise Vince Musewe, Tendai Biti, Elton mangoma and Simba Makoni. Unite, unite the nation and deliver us from this evil. The time is right.
Biti, you still have place in politics join zanu pf, but u need to be careful don’t ask bob to step down. Happy to see u going, wish u all the best
@Thembani what happened on Monday is what Biti and company were supposed to do and for sure Tsvangirai was going to agree to go.So you support Directionless people.let them go to court and they will lose the case.im just sorry for them that it has to end this way.let them form their Coalition and people wil be the judges.wish them good luck
Zanu pf is prepared to lose elections to anyone not MT. That is where the problem is. So they have been engineering this for a long time. Unfortunately for them Zimbabweans know what they want and they will never be fooled by hyenas donned in sheep skin. CHINJA!!!!!!!
MDC is a joke