via Mangoma censured, Bennett sidelined JANUARY 31, 2014 NehandaRadio
A heated meeting of the MDC-T National Executive on Friday censured Deputy Treasurer General Elton Mangoma for using the media to push a leadership change agenda instead of using party channels and platforms.
Sources in the meeting have told Nehanda Radio that Mangoma was not suspended as alleged by some quarters but will be facing a disciplinary hearing chaired by Vice President Thokozani Khupe.
We understand Secretary General Tendai Biti never uttered a single word during the meeting.
Tempers have been high in the party after Mangoma wrote a letter suggesting that Tsvangirai should resign immediately and hand over power to his deputy (Khupe) pending an extraordinary congress that would choose a new leadership.
Tsvangirai’s supporters were camped outside the Harvest House headquarters in a show of support for their leader. Many chanted unprintable insults aimed at Mangoma’s disability and mimicking how he walks.
Tsvangirai’s supporters were camped outside the Harvest House headquarters in a show of support for their leader (Picture by Citizen Reporter.
Meanwhile the meeting on Friday also decided that the party’s annual conference will be held in March.
“The conference will focus on policy issues and organizational renewal. With immediate effect VP Khupe is going to chair the party’s fundraising committee,” our source said.
Other sources have confirmed that the decision to make Khupe chair of the fundraising committee was effectively meant to sideline Bennett who until now was doing most of the fundraising for the party.
We also understand the conference in March might also be used to purge leaders within the party ranks who have been labeled ‘disruptive’ and are being accused of undermining the party to push for Tsvangirai’s ouster.
In an interview with Nehanda Radio this week, Mangoma explained why he decided to write a letter advising Tsvangirai to step down.
Mangoma says he has more love for Tsvangirai than party officials who praise him yet talk badly behind his back as US diplomatic cables leaked by the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks revealed.
He rejected claims that those pushing for Tsvangirai’s ouster are being sponsored by Western governments unhappy with the MDC leader. The former Energy Minister said he and like minded officials never offered Tsvangirai US$3 million to step down as alleged.
He insists he wrote the letter in his personal capacity and did not have any meeting with Treasurer General Roy Bennett and others in South Africa to plot a position paper.
COMMENTS
Quite how grown men and women can joke about a physical disability leaves a sour taste in the mouth. This is sad and a sure indication that the supporters are of low intellect.
There is a Shona saying “Seka urema wafa”. It means only the deceased should luaugh at someone for being disabled coz we never know what’s in store for us. These people are a truly pathetic lot.
Mimicking someone’s disability and misfortune is indeed the devil philosophy. That is mocking the almighty God in every respect because as humans its not our choice to be created that way. Imagine what it does to the disabled people. We always mix up issues when expressing our disagreements. Mangoma’s reasoning must not be mixed with his physical ability. For sure ‘Seka urema wafa’.
This is the Zanufication of the MDC T, where blind loyalty is preferred over the competent. The leadership of the MDC were exposed in the last election as hopelessly out of touch with reality and they were completely out manouvered by ZANU PF from the time of the negotiations for the GNU. Where is the introspection and soul searching that will be required to lift up the MDC T from the ashes. There is an absence of leadership, and the leaders were in the GNU doing exactly what the Zanu PF pigs do and that is feed themselves at the public trough of money. Well the party is over. The MDC needs to renew its leaders and put in place those who can lead.
Who is disabled anyway
If MT supporters are so low life as to mock a disability then it is time for total renewal. That is disgusting behaviour but what example have they got in their lecherous leader.
I am one of those disabbled following my involvement in an accident. Yes , people must not jeer at me, but at the same I must not call for that jeer. Mangoma indeed called for that jeer. If it’s because he has lots of money, that doesn’t matter to us. Whether more educated than Tsvangirai, it’s none of our business. We can’t loose our focus just because the so-called Mangoma ,a famous business man is pursuing Bernett’s goal to disturb the road to democracy. Thank u those who sympathised with him ,and avoid punishing him. It was plot to draw pepo’s attention. To you Mangoma, at the moment, Tsvangirai is synonimous to mdc. Like it or not. Remember Ncube, Sikhala and even the prodigal sons Biti and crew. If you dout me, come 2016 congress, you will witness this. Thank u
No, Nodi! It is boot lickers like you that blindly follow aimlessly that are a hindrance to democracy. Mangoma is practising his democratic right by voicing his opinion without fear or favour even in the face of this biased on slot that he is facing from Tsvangirai loyalists. Democracy is when people can express different views without fear of being victimised. Now tell me why you think Mangoma should be denigrated. ZANU has always called anyone who challenges them a western puppet, now the supposed democratic party is now doing the same. Stop acting as boundary spanners, let there be an open & transparent congress ballot where any aspiring members are free to put their name in & the people are given the chance to anoint a leader of their choice. Instead you are not even open to that idea, Why?
It is disgusting because true leaders would have controlled their misguided illiterate masses, but they chose to remain silent.I really salute western countries who treat their less fortunate members of society with great respect eg you go to their disco places you find these people dancing with able bodied people freely.
We do not choose to be disabled, it comes natural,its beyond human control.The loving God will not allow this to continue without his revenge.
Pathetic behaviour by supporters who are no better than the ZPF ones. Spineless leaders who allow this sort of behaviour do not deserve our support. I have never been a supporter of the establishment of numerous new parties however it is becoming clearer to me that we need principled men & women of integrity to take up the challenge of forming a new party. MDC-T is showing daily that they are not the party to take us forward. Their capitulation during the GNU has brought us to this point.
But you guys where are we missing the point here. While it’s demcracy to call for leadership change why did Mr Mangoma chose to go to the press instead of following the right channels which as part of leadership he is very much aware of. He tried to create a situation which is very difficult for the entire MDC family. He brought all this for himself coz he acted like a mischievous high school boy who want to please some of his schoolmates.
sokwanele tswangirai sufuna ukuba ngumgabe lawe .you did your best but that was not enough to change the lives of zimbabweans .siyabonga all you secrifice waze walalhlekelwa ngumfazi.
Siyabonga step down no one will forget you , you will always have a place in our history.
these demonstrators are just a reflection of their leader, very miopic, imature, viva Mangoma disabled or not he has a point.Disability is not inability. Mngoma`s disability is in the open eka tswangirai ingaphakathi leyo ke iyi ngozi.
Gukurahundi Tsvangirayi should step down. PERIOD!!!
Here we go again….
Well life goes on
I do not think that Tsvangirai would agree to mocking disability. I think he should exonerate himself from this sort of behaviour.
This is just what ZANUPF want! The opposition party at each others throat. MDC must realise this. All this infighting shows the enemy a sign of weakness. If you want to fight DON’T MAKE IT PUBLIC!
There is no braver man than the physically challenged Mangoma. The man has shown he is not mentally disabled by tackling an issue no other man has braved to tell a tyrant in the making. Men of Mangomas stature are a rarity for they fearlessly seek to articulate issues that will haunt mankind for a very long time.Idiots like those that thronged Harvest House to manhandle heroic Mangoma for asking Tsvangirai how he amassed so much wealth in so short a space of time in government will be the first to cry foul when this band of thieves will have started looting like they did during their tenure in the GNU. Political maturity demands sober interrogation of political actors in a quest to determine the correct caliber of future national leaders and not unsolicited and misplaced blind allegiance to an individual. So leaders who get so rich quickly in a country of extreme poverty and squander a lot of the loot with harlots and strong opposition women is a classic example of people never to be entrusted with national responsibility. I would not hesitate to support a party, should Mangoma and his ilk form one.
so who really put this letter in the public media and how come we are reading , in the public media, the debate in the MDC National Exec Meeting!!!???
Zimbabwe- a nation of bitter people! So good at using their cheeky tongues but do very little. Muchapopota kusvika mafa!