Tsvangirai living in Zanu PF house, Biti

via Tsvangirai living in Zanu PF house, Biti – New Zimbabwe 16/02/2015

FORMER MDC-T secretary general Tendai Biti has scoffed at calls from erstwhile comrade Nelson Chamisa to “return to the big-tent” led by veteran leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

The former finance minister said Tsvangirai was a huge drag on the pro-democracy movement in the country.

Biti warned that, if elected President, the ex-premier would become a worse dictator than President Robert Mugabe, an inclination exposed by his recent ban on social media.

Chamisa reportedly told a weekend rally in his Kuwadzana East constituency that Biti should “stop dreaming about ruling the country and support Tsvangirai” instead.

But Biti, in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com rejected the offer “with the contempt it deserves”.

“Who is Chamisa? He is not even in the Standing Committee,” said Biti.

“For the record we will never join them, because the reasons why we decided to move out are manifesting themselves now.

“It is there for all to see and Tsvangirai cannot attack the system because he is benefiting. He is living in their house.”

Chamisa. a former highflyer within the opposition party, controversially lost the fight to take over from Biti as secretary general to former Nyanga North legislator Douglas Mwonzora.

Reports claimed that Tsvangirai helped “rig the poll” against the then party organising secretary.

Biti, early last year, joined former cabinet colleague and then deputy party treasurer general Elton Mangoma in calling for Tsvangirai’s removal citing undemocratic tendencies. A nasty fall-out ensued leading to the party splitting into two last April.

The former finance minister Biti said Tsvangirai has become a drag on the democratic struggle in Zimbabwe.

“Tsvangirai has become the elephant in the room and an albatross to the opposition in the country and the democratic struggle in the country,” said Biti.

“He will become a worse dictator than Mugabe (President Robert, who has been in power for close to four decades); what with reports that he wants to ban social media as well as indications that he is now signing the party’s accounts.

“There is no more separation of powers as the president is now running the show in every respect.”

Before he joined the Government of National Unity in 2009, Tsvangirai had promised that, if he won the presidency, he would not move into State House, the official residence of British governors and of Mugabe from 1980 to date.

“I’ve got my little house here (in Strathaven). It is comfortable enough and I don’t need to go into any particular stately house in order to prove, to prove what?”

However, following the consummation of the coalition with long-time political foe, Mugabe, Tsvangirai was allocated and accepted a million dollar plush home in the leafy up market suburb of Highlands in the capital.

He has stayed there ever since despite his tenure as Premier coming to an end just before the 2013 general elections.

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