MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is mulling a special congress early next year for his party in order to enforce his authority, following his loss at the July 31 elections.
PATRICE MAKOVA NQOBILE BHEBHE
This comes amid widening cracks within the party with different factions accusing each other of being responsible for the MDC-T defeat. Some senior officials, notably exiled treasurer-general Roy Bennet, have already openly called for Tsvangirai’s resignation.
Sources said Tsvangirai raised the issue of an early congress at a meeting of the MDC-T national standing committee on Friday.
A senior MDC-T official said Tsvangirai has also been consulting individual members of the national standing committee.
“Tsvangirai knows that his rivals in the party are blaming him for the MDC-T loss,” a source said.
“He no longer has the respect and confidence of some of his subordinates.
“This is why he now wants an early congress to resolve the leadership crisis and bury his rivals once and for all.”
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An MDC-T national council member confirmed the proposal.
But he said the party was sharply divided over the issue, with some saying an early congress was likely to fragment the party further.
“Tsvangirai will fight like a wounded buffalo. He will prevail, but the results of such a congress will be disastrous for the party,” the official said.
He said those who were supportive of the idea of a congress were secretary-general Tendai Biti and national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa, both being touted as possible future successors of Tsvangirai.
But the likes of party spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora and deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma are said to be opposed to an early congress.
Mwonzora yesterday said an early congress was out of the question, insisting the event was still set for 2016.
“The national executive and national council met yesterday (Friday) and resolved that our congress will be held in 2016,” he said.
Mwonzora said the Friday meeting also discussed Bennett’s utterances.
He said Tsvangirai agreed that indeed the issue of leadership renewal must be openly debated within the MDC-T and by the public.
“However, there is also a need that leaders maintain discipline with regards where they air their views,” Mwonzora said.
“But importantly, Tsvangirai said the issue of succession must be talked about.”
Bennett last week told South Africa’s Business Day that Tsvangirai’s continued stay in power did not reflect the will of the people, saying he had served two terms and was nearly completing a third one.
Meanwhile, in a statement after a meeting of the party’s national executive and national council, the party said the continued incarceration of members was part of the harassment it suffered at the hands of Zanu PF, resolving to “fight by all means necessary all attempts by (President Robert) Mugabe and Zanu PF to subvert the people’s Constitution”.
“Further, the party noted with concern the brazen attempts by Mugabe to subvert the Constitution by bringing in provincial governors disguised as ministers of State responsible for provinces,” read the statement.
“This is meant to circumvent and defeat the constitutionally well spelt out principle of devolution of power to the provinces.” Mugabe appointed Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs in the 10 provinces, a move the MDC-T says is meant to water down devolution. The party said it was also worried at the continued detention of its members.
“The party noted with concern the incarceration of its members and officials including its deputy national chairman Morgan Komichi and the Glen View six,” the statement reads.
“This continued incarceration and detention is part of the on-going harassment of the MDC members and officials by State agents, using the criminal justice system,” part of the statement reads.
Komichi was arrested before the July 31 elections over ballot papers that were reportedly found in a waste bin during the special voting exercise.
MDC-T insisted that although Sadc and the African Union had issued what it deemed to be biased statements on the elections, it will continue engaging them.
