via MDC-T cracks down on open dissent | SW Radio Africa by Tichaona Sibanda on Wednesday, October 9, 2013
The MDC-T has started its crackdown on errant members to ensure they toe the line, the party spokesman said on Wednesday.
The party on Tuesday suspended Ian Kay, the losing parliamentary candidate for Marondera Central, for calling on Morgan Tsvangirai to step down as leader.
Douglas Mwonzora told SW Radio Africa that Kay ignored the existence of party rules and went off track to not only criticize the president but use wrong channels to air his personal opinions.
Kay recently told the media that the MDC-T was like a ‘soccer team’ and, ‘if the coach continues losing, there is need for the technical board to sit down and deal with the issue.’
He continued: ‘There is need to plan ahead before the ship sinks and if there is need to change the coach, then let it be. Or should I say it is like a rusty bolt? There is need for it to be removed and replaced with a new one, rather than leave it like that.’
Tsvangirai has however vowed that he would step down only if voted out at congress in 2016 and asked the provincial leadership in Mashonaland East to investigate Kay’s conduct, for allegedly using public media to discredit the party.
‘The leadership of the MDC-T believes Kay, as a senior member of the party, went off track. He did not show respect and adherence to the guiding principles of the party. He did not completely follow basic rules and regulations.’
Mwonzora reiterated that Kay was not being punished for what he said but the central issue was that of procedure, pointing out that the former MP was not an authorized person to speak to the media on party policy.
‘His crime is not expressing his personal opinion, we do that in the MDC and we have platforms for doing that internally. He should not have said that to outsiders where he ended up causing despondency within the party,’ Mwonzora added.
A source told us that the party was also facing massive pressure from its supporters for not taking action against Kay because he is white, whilst black members are allegedly dealt with swiftly and harshly.
Political analyst Gideon Chitanga said in any democratic dispensation people are free to express themselves, speak their mind and criticise their leaders but in a responsible way.
‘Political parties are like any other institution, they have their own rules of governance and Kay should have used those channels.
‘Individual party members must not be gagged, they must be relatively free to voice dissent or float distinctive arguments,’ Chitanga said.
Chitanga said the net effect of Kay’s actions was well exploited by the state media and ZANU PF as evidence of divisions in MDC-T ranks.
Despite Mwonzora’s defence of the way the MDC-T have been handling this issue, there has been much criticism of their approach in various social media forums. People have expressed concern that the MDC-T is behaving exactly the same as ZANU PF and that any criticism of the leadership is not allowed.
COMMENTS
I was a committed MDC supporter untill they turned away from democracy and amended their constitution to promote the dictator, the now permanent opposition leader MT. MDC will always be an opposition party led by its life long leader bull frog MT. ZPF will rule Zim for ever as long as we don’t move past MDC era.
Taura hako. Its now becoming very clear that the present MDC leadership is clueless when it comes to making popilar decisions. Ian Kay is the most popular mdc leaders in the province who has given so much to the party since its inception.He has mobilised funding for virtually all the party’s activities and for the MDC to just say fokoro because he has expressed openly what most people are saying behind closed doors shows a party in panic mode incapable of making any serious decisions. Did the MDC look at Ian Kay’s election results and compare them with all their candidates in the country. Elections are all about numbers dear friends. It is such arrogance by small men like Chamisa and Mwonzora that cost the party crucial votes in the last election. With this kind of thinking hamuchasumuki pamuri apo.
True Thembani. Let those who enjoy crying about Zanupf now and again continue in this obvious failed party. It must be clear that except for those who financially benefit from it there is really nothing that the people of Zimbabwe will get from it. Its just the naked truth!
The full political live circle is as follows, UANC to Zanu to mdc then back to zanu. MaZanu mazhinji aka bva muMadzakutsaku. MaMdc akabva muZanu. Saka maMdc ose maZanu. Musiyano ndewrkuti muMDC mine vamhu vanotaura kunge maforeigners
Salitshela ngoTshwankilayi wenu. Enjoy suspending each other coz MDC Tea is NOT different from the ZANOO Poo murderers and thieves housed at Shake Shake house. So for one to voice concern with the way the Tea is going he or she is suspended? Ya kunzima eHarvest House
Follow the rules of the party not pleasing the enemy. Kay has to face the music he is no sacred cow like the other old man we know. VeZanu leave MDC to put their house in order. Ko munorwadziwa nei? If u want Kay mutorei. In Zanu he will be told when to breathe. Those who have personal issues with Chamisa must approach him not to vomit in public. Some pple claim to be MDC bt they are mercenaries of Zanu. Shut up and do what yo ancestor is telling u to do.
The matter of fact is, MDC hierarchy had failed to claim people’s victory,not just from previous 31 July rigged election,but from all the elections we had participated since 2002. Remember,that you may gather star rallies with largest crowds &supporters the most crucial concerpt is/was to make sure people’s votes are accounted for ,especially where rigging is rife ,availability of voters rol availability. Of part polling agents,but. The. entire Mdc had. Faile d
Kay and Bennet alluded the right inputs.Tsvangarai have contributed a lot to democracy but now Zim need a Joshua to lead the people into into Canaan
The current Mdc leadership will not win any elections
MDC must accept the facts ‘