Top MDC-T official suspended

Politics
MDC-T youth assembly secretary-general Promise Mkhwananzi has been suspended pending dismissal for allegedly fanning factionalism while the fate of youth boss Solomon Madzore hangs on a thread as infighting in the party shows no signs of abating.

MDC-T youth assembly secretary-general Promise Mkhwananzi has been suspended pending dismissal for allegedly fanning factionalism while the fate of youth boss Solomon Madzore hangs on a thread as infighting in the party shows no signs of abating.

NQOBANI NDLOVU STAFF REPORTER

The suspension of Mkhwananzi comes a week after MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai announced a truce with party members calling for him to step aside.

Infighting in the MDC-T was stoked by a letter to Tsvangirai by suspended treasurer-general Elton Mangoma advising him to step down.

Since the letter, the MDC-T has embarked on nationwide purges of dissenting voices.

Mkhwananzi, who has been vocal on the need for leadership renewal in the MDC-T, had denounced the truce as a non-event as long as purges continued.

MDC-T youth assembly spokesperson Clifford Hlatshwayo yesterday said Mkhwananzi had been suspended pending dismissal by the organ’s national council held at the party’s Harvest House headquarters on Sunday.

“The national council recommended expulsion from the party of Mkhwananzi for various constitutional breaches, which include promoting factionalism, misappropriation of party funds, serious security breaches, misrepresentation of the assembly’s resolutions and standing positions and putting the name of the party into disrepute, among others.

“The council assigned his deputy, Netsai Samhembere, as the acting secretary-general,” Hlatshwayo said in a press release.

Hlatshwayo indicated that Madzore might also be suspended pending dismissal if the party leadership goes along with the wishes of the youth assembly.

“The national council meeting expressed serious displeasure in the manner in which Madzore is discharging his duties as the assembly leader and his non-attendance of party programmes and meetings. Therefore it resolved that his matter be forwarded to the top leadership for further deliberation and action according to Article 12 of the constitution,” Hlatshwayo said.

He indicated that the MDC-T youth assembly national council pledged undying loyalty to Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai told party supporters recently in Chipinge that he would hand over power to a new generation “at a certain stage, but it will only happen through a congress and not a hostile take-over”.

Mkhwananzi and Madzore could not be reached for comment.