MDC-T national council yesterday agreed to expel suspended deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma and three other senior members as the leadership renewal war takes another twist. Paidamoyo Muzulu Senior Reporter
The MDC-T resolved to expel Mangoma, Last Maengahama, Jacob Mafume and Promise Mkwananzi who have become the face of the leadership renewal crusade. The four have been the leading proponents calling for the resignation of party leader Morgan Tsvangirai. MDC-T national spokesman Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the expulsions.
“The national council acting in terms of clause 5:11 of the constitution of the MDC voted 131 out of 190 for the summary expulsion of the four,” Mwonzora said.
However, Mafume the spokesman of the renewal team, scoffed at the decision and said it was illegal and undemocratic.
“The decision is clearly ultra vires the MDC-T constitution and the national Constitution, which clearly shows that an offending party should be given a proper hearing before it is fired,” he said.
“Anything else besides following those laid down procedures is mob justice and kangaroo behaviour.”
Mafume added that in any event for a person like Mangoma, he was waiting for the disciplinary hearing to take place in terms of the party’s constitution.
“It’s surprising that the party which suspended and called for a disciplinary hearing is the same that is now subverting the procedures by acting grossly unreasonably by denying the accused the right to be heard,” he added.
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The MDC-T leadership renewal wrangle blew out of control in February when Mangoma’s confidential letter to Tsvangirai exhorting him to resign for failure to lead the party was leaked to the media.
After that the matter spiralled out of control culminating in the beating up of Mangoma, Tendai Biti and Mkwananzi at the party headquarters, Harvest House. The national council meeting held in February resolved to suspend Mangoma.
However, the secretary-general Biti came out saying that the national council decision was wrong.
The party was in the middle of setting up a tribunal comprising three lawyers who qualify to be High Court judges to conduct Mangoma’s disciplinary hearing.
In another twist earlier this week, Mangoma applied to the High Court challenging his suspension and the matter is still pending before the courts.
