Tsvangirai gets backing

MDC-T youths in Matabeleland North met at the party’s provincial headquarters in Hwange on Saturday to fill various posts and also took the opportunity to reaffirm their support for embattled party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

MDC-T youths in Matabeleland North met at the party’s provincial headquarters in Hwange on Saturday to fill various posts and also took the opportunity to reaffirm their support for embattled party leader Morgan Tsvangirai. SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER

Matabeleland North MDC-T interim provincial chairperson Thembinkosi Sibindi yesterday confirmed the meeting saying the main purpose was to fill gaps in the provincial youth council.

“The meeting was graced by the youths’ national leadership comprising national organising-secretary Happimore Chidzikwa, information and publicity secretary Clifford Hlatshwayo, national youth co-ordinator Desmond Ncube, national representative from Harare province Albert Chidakwa and national representative from Bulawayo province Felix Mhaka,” he said.

Sibindi said the youth provincial council led by Francisca Ncube (chairperson) had no deputy chair, deputy organising secretary and information and publicity secretary.

“In resolutions agreed at the meeting, the youth council reaffirmed its loyalty to the party leadership led by Tsvangirai. We dissociated ourselves from the group of party members who attended the Mandel Training Centre meeting in Harare who have since formed their own political party. We pledged our ourselves to lawfully expose Zanu PF’s shortcomings in its jobs promises and general economic management,” he said.

Sibindi and his provincial executive were ushered into office following the suspension of the team led by Sengezo Tshabangu for alleged links to the renewal faction within the party.

The group, which calls itself the MDC-Team and fronted by secretary-general Tendai Biti and deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma, recently sparked more commotion in the party by announcing the suspension of Tsvangirai and his top lieutenants.

Tsvangirai’s group reacted by announcing the expulsion of all members of the renewal team and also sought to have them lose their parliamentary seats.

However, National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda told the warring factions to go to court.

Biti and his group are reportedly putting together a grand coalition with the Welshman Ncube-led MDC, Dumiso Dabengwa’s Zapu and Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn led by Simba Makoni.