THE MDC-T renewal team heads to Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South this week to unveil its new colours and set up structures as it forges ahead with plans to form a new political party. NQOBANI NDLOVU/NQOBILE BHEBHE
The MDC-T renewal team held its structures’ meeting in Harare on Saturday where it unveiled orange as its colour, in a significant step towards forming a new party.
MDC-T renewal team interim chairperson Samuel Sipepa Nkomo told Southern Eye the grouping was not “Harare-based” but would be progressively rolling out its programmes throughout the country.
He said in July, they would focus on Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South.
“We are not only in Harare. We have been to Masvingo, the Midlands, and Mashonaland West. This week we will be in Chitungwiza. In July we will be in Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South. It’s a process, but I do not have the dates on me as I am in Sipepa (Tsholotsho),” Sipepa Nkomo said.
The renewal team’s spokesperson Jacob Mafume was quoted in weekend newspapers saying the orange colour adopted by the group represented social democrats and signified the ripening of the revolution.
Promise Mkhwananzi, the former secretary-general of the MDC-T youth assembly confirmed the renewal team was heading to Bulawayo to set up proper structures.
“We will be in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South as part of our structure rejuvenation programme to fill gaps on the structures where the suspended group continues to cause confusion,” he said.
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“We are working towards a united democratic front to unseat Zanu PF. We have been to various provinces to explain to them what has been happening and the way forward.”
The MDC-T and the renewal team are also at loggerheads over the control of party properties.
Chaos and infighting over party assets and control of the party began playing out after the crushing loss to Zanu PF in the July 31 2013 elections. After the elections, calls for party leader Morgan Tsvangirai to step down grew with accusations he made unilateral decisions to participate in the elections in the full knowledge the vote would be “rigged”.
He allegedly usurped a national executive resolution to demand reforms before polls.
In letters that sparked the fall-out early this year, expelled deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma accused Tsvangirai of abusing State funds meant for his government house when he was prime minister in the coalition government.
