FIREWORKS are expected at the MDC-T Matabeleland North provincial meeting on Saturday as confusion continues to envelope the party over a clause in its constitution relating to the passing of a vote of no confidence.
NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Tuesday told a local radio station that a vote of no confidence was not part of the party’s culture.
This has created renewed commotion in the party with the “suspended” Matabeleland North executive led by Sengezo Tshabangu hailing the prevailing of sanity saying they had been vindicated for defying his so called ouster as the party’s constitution did not provide for a vote of no confidence.
Tshabangu told Southern Eye yesterday that the party would hold a meeting in Hwange on Saturday.
However, chairperson of the interim provincial executive that had benefitted from the vote of no confidence Thembinkosi Sibindi said they would not allow Tshabangu and his colleagues into the meeting.
The Sibindi interim executive assumed office after a vote of no confidence was passed on the Tshabangu executive on March 1.
“Tshabangu is not the chairperson of (MDC-T) Matabeleland North. Maybe he wants to listen. He should know that if he comes, then he wants to start noise and he will get what he wants,” said Sibindi.
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“I was called as Matabeleland North chairperson in Harare yesterday (Tuesday) when we met president Tsvangirai and discussed issues affecting us. He said those like (suspended treasurer-general Elton) Mangoma who publicised party internal processes will be handled through internal structures, but that does not apply to the likes of Tshabangu.
“Tshabangu was removed by a congressional resolution of the provincial executive council. We won’t allow him to do what he wants. The meeting was called by me and there is no way he is going to address it.”
Tshabangu, on the other hand, said Tsvangirai was the highest authority in the party and his statements showed that he had correctly read the constitution.
“That is the confusion of the party which changes the things it says today and tomorrow. I have said before that we need to pay allegiance to the constitution of the party and not people,” he said.
“We are glad that our leader has heeded our calls. We have said there is no clause in our constitution on a vote of no confidence. The president is the final authority of our party. When he says something, he would have read the constitution.”
Tshabangu said they would use Saturday’s meeting to implement resolutions reached at a meeting in Lupane two weeks ago.
“We have resolutions; the structure made resolutions when it met two weeks ago and those resolutions have to be implemented. I am the chairman of the province; I have been chairman of the province,” he added.
