MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s got a boost yesterday when the party’s guardian council disassociated itself from a move to discipline him by a rival faction led by Tendai Biti.
Staff Reporter
Tsvangirai and other top officials were “suspended” last month on accusations of corruption, dictatorship and violence.
The meeting that resolved to suspend the founding MDC-T leader was chaired by the council’s secretary Samuel Sipepa Nkomo while its chairperson Sekai Holland was said to be in charge of party affairs until the party’s congress.
However, Holland chaired the two-day guardian council, which met in Harare to deliberate on the problems bedevilling MDC-T.
“The guardians’ council wishes to categorically state that it was never involved in the planning, convening, organising and conduct of the meeting that was held at Mandel and dissociates itself from all the resolutions of that meeting,” the council said in its resolutions.
It said its role is to offer “advice and wisdom to the national leadership of the party including the national executive and national council”.
The council also appeared prepared to listen to the Biti camp’s grievances when it condemned violence in the party.
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“The council resolved to condemn resorting to violence as a means of resolving political disputes and that those (involved) in the violence should be brought to book,” the council said.
“This is in line with the values and principles of the party as contained in the party constitution.
“In line with its constitutional mandate, the guardians’ gouncil further resolved to explore effective strategies designed to ensure that a conducive environment is created within the party at all levels to facilitate dialogue.”
Biti’s MDC-Team has declared that its differences with Tsvangirai are irreconcilable as it accuses him of intolerance.
However, there has been talk that the warring parties could be brought to the negotiating table to save the MDC-T from collapse.
It would be the second split since the formation of the MDC in 1999 after the 2005 chasm.
