IN a theatrical turn of events, Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP)’s interim national committee has been dismissed weeks after claiming that it had overthrown party leader Mqondisi Moyo and his entire executive.
The interim committee was set up by a faction in the party which accused Moyo and his executive of using hate speech and abusing members and party resources.
The interim committee has, however, reportedly faced resistance since its inception and now ringleaders Thembisani Mfulongatshi Mpofu and Mudenda Chilombo, who had been chosen to run the party ahead of the congress, have been dismissed.
Purported leader of the interim committee, Mbonisi Gumbo, was said to have never been an MRP member.
Addressing a Press conference on Monday this week, party spokesperson Velile Moyo revealed that the party’s constitution, under Rule 16, mandates the national executive committee (NEC) the party’s highest organ between conferences to appoint its members should vacancies occur.
“Part (g) of Rule 16 authorises the NEC to appoint anyone whom it deems suitable to fill a vacancy that arises within the NEC, regarding Press conferences,” he said.
“Rule 5(I) of the Constitution forbids any party member to publish or distribute any information about the party to any media house without seeking and securing authorisation from the NEC.
Moyo said Rules 11 and 34 provided for the dissolution of NEC only at the national conference.
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He further indicated that the constitution states that between national conferences, NEC can only be dissolved through consultations with relevant party structures.
“It is in light of this constitutional background vis-a-vis the manner the members who announced the dissolution conducted themselves, the purported dissolution of the party’s NEC is dismissed as unfounded and non-existent,” he said.
“After the illegal Press conference, the deviant members proceeded to form what they termed the national interim committee (NIC). The constitution of the Mthwakazi Republic Party makes no provision for such a structure. This sets all members in the NIC in opposition to the party and the constitution.”
Some of the NIC members, who have been suspended pending an investigation into their involvement in the “coup” plot, are: Edmon Xakaxwayo (Matabeleland South), Eugene Ncube (Bulawayo) Bembethe Khumalo (Matabeleland North), Sehliselo Ndebele (Matabeleland North), Alick Moyo (Matabeleland South), Cengiwe Khumalo (Matabeleland North) and Jabulani Sibanda (Midlands).
“It should be noted that some of the members who were listed on NIC have since publicly denied their involvement and participation. The public will notice that Mbonisi Gumbo is not included in the list because he was no longer a member of the party when he addressed the Press concerning the alleged dissolution of the NEC,” the party spokesperson added.
