via Tsvangirai okays succession debate by Nkosana Dlamini for NewZimbabwe 18/09/2013
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has virtually opened up debate around leadership change in his party but insists he will see through his five-year term as leader of the embattled political party.
Speaking Wednesday at an MDC-T press briefing to announce a list of party officials who will shadow President Robert Mugabe’s incumbent cabinet, Tsvangirai took time to hit back at his party treasurer turned critic, Roy Bennett, who has openly demanded his resignation.
Bennett, who is exiled in South Africa, told a South African newspaper last week that Tsvangirai should relinquish the post he has held on to since the formation of MDC in 1999 following his crushing election defeat to President Robert Mugabe on July 31.
In his response, Tsvangirai said Bennett had a right to post personal opinions through social media but declined this was a reflection of his party’s thinking.
“Our policy towards social media is that you can make comments about your own personal communication but party policies are articulated through the party spokesperson,” Tsvangirai said.
“So any comment that may be made at a personal level of party issues, it’s irresponsible, it’s not necessary.”
Tsvangirai said he will not suppress any debate in his party on matters of leadership renewal but insisted this should be by way of democratic, party internal processes.
“There is no sacred issue to debate,” he said, “If there is need for leadership renewal, we don’t suppress it. We actually encourage it. But you can’t just wake up in the streets and say ‘Tsvangirai must go’. There are processes that should be instituted and there are forums that will make that decision and one of those key forums is a congress.
“We are discussing that in the MDC openly unlike in other parties where it is almost taboo even when one is 90 years old, it cannot be discussed. So for me it’s not an issue. I’m not going to step aside because newspapers say you should step aside, because Zanu PF says you should step aside.”
Tsvangirai polled a paltry 34 percent of the presidential vote against President Mugabe’s 61 during the July 31 elections.
His critics accuse him of failing to provide effective leadership to dislodge Mugabe and his Zanu PF.
“Our stand is that this election was stolen. That’s the narrative,” Tsvangirai said. “If the election was stolen, you cannot ask for leadership renewal unless you have other motivations.”
Zimbabwe’s former Prime Minister said his party’s national council, which has the power to make key party decisions in between congresses, was the only organ mandated with matters of leadership change.
He insisted sentiments around his ouster were being championed by his enemies and those bent on subverting the MDC-T constitution.
Tsvangirai continued: “For somebody to ask me to abandon the responsibility and mandate l was given only two, three years ago is not only irresponsible on my part, it is a betrayal of the people’s
expectations and aspirations.
“The struggle has to be executed and under the leadership of a standing committee that was elected at that congress and I am hoping, come 2016, that mandate would be reviewed by a duly constituted congress. There is no argument about that. I don’t intend to stay any day longer beyond my mandate.
“The struggle is not an event. The struggle is a process and l cannot in the middle of the struggle just abandon people. To what end? To what objective? To satisfy who? To satisfy Zanu PF? To satisfy people who have individual grudges or individual opinions against me? I don’t want to be liked by everyone but surely, l have a constituency which has given me the mandate and that is the mandate which l am going to pursue when the time comes which is 2016.”
Meanwhile, Tsvangirai has hinted at the possibility of sacking MDC-T councillors who ditched MDC-T preferred candidates for Zanu PF mayoral candidates in Monday’s polls.
“The constitution is very clear. The party has a right of recall, whether you are a councillor or an MP. When the party feels you are no longer representing its mandate, you can be recalled. Now in this instance a democratic process is already taking place whereby the councillors in those affected towns – Mutare, Victoria Falls, Kwekwe, Redcliff, Gweru and the provincial councils have been tasked to convene meetings of the district councils and all the ward structures where these councils emerge, they will have to answer to those structures whether they carried out the mandate that they were given,” Tsvangirai said.
COMMENTS
Well done Morgan. That is what a real leader must do – allow people to express their opinion, and let them folow the appropriate channels. Hazvingonzii ngaaende, iye obva angosimuka orova pasi – zvinopinza mhepo mumusha.
Daniel ndinewe mukoma idama rama taura. What some people are clamouring for is disorderly processes that destroy everything. The truth be told, this election was stolen in broad day light by sophisticated crooks. This would’ve been stolen from anyone, Roy Bennett included, if he thinks Tsvangirai was a let down. How much of this rigging did he know was in store for the nation? We all knew, but what form it was to take, we though we had all angles covered. But those whose lives were at stake were unfortunately fully in command of the electoral process, and they knew the deal was done.
MT himself should have offerred to step down. If you lead 3 campaigns and fail, it is wise to give someone else a chance. No matter what rules your opponents operated by, you will have failed your followers. For you to survive longer means your party sees no alternative leader for its survival and that is a sorry, unhealthy place for any organisation to be, in the long run.
Rwendo dont be blind.Where were you in 2008 when the man of the people won resoundingly, by more than 50% and ZANU PF refused with the results.Dont be blind people
Morgan zanu pf does not want you to go because you are well beatable in every election so they are safe with you there being
the leader Bennett your treasurer is the one asking for you to step down not zanu pf
Yoyo. As I said, irrespective of what your opponents do. If you are capable of foreseeing and countermoving your opponents’s tricks, you have failed. If you fight a cobra and it bites you, you cant say; ‘Not fair! It used venom.” That is what cobras do; did you have a plan or strstegy for that?” this is true weather you sre a CEO, General of an army, or a politician. Know your enemy well!
Nhaiwe Rwendo kusiya kwaSave kunotibatsirei izvozvi. Gadziridzo haiitwe neasina kunyora. Save ndivo munyori saka rega vanyorezve gadziriso yavo tozochiitarisaka paingadazve imwe gadziriso. Save endererai henyu mberi pashoma nepashoma munonyora gadziriso yenyu.
Rwendo haurase mbereko nokufirwa! Don’t just put blame on Tsvangirai. We are fighting a Zanu system which is well established for 33years and its a wounded lion. I hope you will understand what it means. Ofcourse you are welcome to compete if at all you are vying for the leadership contest but wait until 2016 to prove your worthiness! At the moment there is nothing for you, Save is in charge.
Aluta continua untiro finaro vikitori Save!!! When all conditions have been met, then and then only shall we deliberate! As of now Save stay focused, garayi Mugabe mabhora chete!
Thank you guys for such balanced arguements.Ndokutaura pachirumeka uku.Chero neni ndinohwa manyukunyuku kana mhuri ye Zimbabwe ichikurukurirana dambudziko rawira musha zvisina kutukana mukati.This is democracy we cry for .Balanced views kwete kungorotomoka kuti sanction sanction.Lets be sober and deal with the succession issue with full knowledge that Save is an established brand.Kuti tivarase, eeeeh, but we will need to build another brand quick quik.Ngatisarase mbereko nekufigwa.Save angava dofo sekufunga kwevamwe, asi zivai kuti chimwangi chinodada kana chasvika pamabwe.Chinenge chododomera apo mapadza makuru achikomara
MT has been the stalwart of the MDC – standing up to mugabe when vazhinji had thier tails between thier legs – including mu zanu macho. since dongo and mavhaire’s mugabe must go stance, who else has ever said a word? MT bears the scars of battle. the MDC has won all elections since it inception. zanu has repeatedly rigged with the assistance of the SADC and NIKOV and zuma and mbeki and obasanjo and banda in malawi.yes, he will have to go at some point but not in a chiotic manner. this will only benefit zanu pf and i recon it is their ploy. i wouldn’t be supprised to see bennet back at his farm some day. don’t ever trust zanu. they are scared of MT and no one else in the MDC – hence why they want him deposed. lets see what happens at congress in 2016
Thanks for these comments hama dzangu. Hongu. Mumwe ne mumwe anekuona kwake. But I still believe that if we all knew that ZANU PF had cheated for the previous 2 elections, why go blindly into another election without the necessary groundwork or counter measures? And for the third time in a row, shock and outrage – no plan B?? Beyond that, why in the first place prematurely join the GNU just when ZANU PF was at its weakest, BEFORE first extracting the most advantage? Do you think Mugabe (or ZANU PF) in 1980 would have agreed to become a junior partner to Smith or Muzorewa if he new he had won the elections. I could go on. Perhaps MT is the best the MDC have and the party has become a one man band. If so God save that party in the years to come.
zvokwadi ndeyekuti MT is a man amongst man, you might lebel him dofo but watch me, panogona kushaikwa a brave man who will stand against zanu kana after MT, ma spectator talk as if they are the star players , chivapa bhora uone. lets not contribute to the destruction of our party, we are almost there .GIVE MT THE RESPECT HE DESERVES
I tend to lean towards rwendo’s reasoning. Not that other views are wrong but it makes more sense. MT dined with vipers for so long in the GNU. he should have studied them scrutinised their behavior to the last detail remember this is politics not a fair game of rugby. lives are @ stake millions rallying behind yr capabilities. he failed in not articulating an intelligence structure that shld hve penetrated his enemies structures. Nikuv operated in the min of home affairs when makone was co minister. thats something. chamisa was in charge of IT shld I go on. u gight a viper it bites u once u study it and fight it it bites u again. u befriend it and opens uo some of its guards ro u. u fight it and it bites u
again. surely something is wrong with u and not the viper. acknowkedge that u have failed in some respect. dont sit on the high and mighty chair and absolve yrself od any failings. the spoils of war go the victor. stolen from who , the election was theie for the taking. it wss a question of hw far can u go to get it or prevent yr enemy frm getting it. Rwendo pliz u are an eye opener.
Nowonder it will take ages for MDC T to mature as they r slowly adapting the african culture of politic. If u worship a individual in a party u r doomed to fail. First the MDC constitution stipulated that a person can be a president for only two five year terms but Tsvangirai has been a president for 14 yrs???? Can u those who supoort MT explain that rule was broken and yet he claims he belives in democracy. Well to guys who say wait till 2016 to change leadership I beliv u r the one being naïve now becoz the minute u start altering ur own party guidelines to suit certain individual and claiming the party will be doomed without that person as its brand. Then u don’t have vision at all hence u no defferent to zanu pf
its not that the party is doomed without Save.Its that Save is now a force and well known by every person in the country.rural people might not even know their MPs but they know Save.He has his weaknesses but truelly speaking, how many of us guys could have avoided the rigging,SADC , Army ,Police, ZEC,AU all on ZANU side.ZANU knew it was going to win but not by that margin.Insiders will tell you that they were shocked by their win.To cap it, they made sure ChiyangwA, Jonathan Moyo,Musakwa lost and then paved way for Munyaradzi Kereke.Now Jonathan Moyo is unpredictable, they give him the information ministry to safeguard all the tricks which also worked against him.ZANU said the country will never be taken by a ballot, so they meant it.Regroup and offer ideas not simply critising
Those are the ideas we are offering Tino. MT is a hero. He stood up when others were afraid. But 1. Leaders must be accountable. 2. Leadership renewal is healthy. 3. MT was the best leaderl when mass mobilization for stay aways, and for mobilising voters in numbers was an effective strategy. Those strategies are not the best anymore because ZANU PF countered with violence/terror tactics and rigging. New leadership with new ideas is the answer.
Hats off to Save!!! How many prospective politicians survived the combination of state & ZANU machinations beyond a week after declaring their opposition to the rogue system? Forming a party and remaining intact against the satanic regime machinations for 14 years is an insurmountable feat that has confused the emperor. The system went to the extend of wasting huge resources to liquidate Save’s outfit without success. Remember Ben Menashe. They have even trebbled the security apparatus for political ends. By the way – where is Roy? In hiding and I believe he is now on the payroll. Let Roy form his own organization and we wait to see how long it will survive an whether he sets foot on the empire.
These are the dangers of a lesder staying too long. He/she becomes to feel indispendable and entitled. Like Mugabe he snd his followers focus on his glory days in the past. They become blind to the shortcomings of the present and the needs of the future.
Well said Rwendo,its not like we have a thing agnaist MT,yes we salute him to for what he has done but u guys r like worshiping him now and that the issue. How r u supposed to see or know if there r other people within the party who can carry the torch if u don’t want to let go and let other carry it.