‘Tsvangirai an undemocratic leader’

Politics
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is undemocratic, MDC-Renewal and the Welshman Ncube-led MDC said yesterday, dismissing the ex-premiers’ calls on Wednesday for a unity pact to dislodge Zanu PF.

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is undemocratic, MDC-Renewal and the Welshman Ncube-led MDC said yesterday, dismissing the ex-premiers’ calls on Wednesday for a unity pact to dislodge Zanu PF.

NQOBANI NDLOVU STAFF REPORTER

Tsvangirai, in his end-of-year address, pleaded with Ncube and the MDC-Renewal to rejoin his party and free Zimbabweans from years of suffering he blamed on Zanu PF.

Welshman-Ncube
Welshman-Ncube

Former MDC T secretary-general Tendai Biti and others quit the MDC-T after last year’s elections to form what they called the MDC-Renewal team.

Ncube split from the MDC-T in 2005. Ncube and Biti have since signed a unity pact and call themselves the United MDC (UMDC).

Nhlanhla Dube, the MDC spokesperson, said their party stands ready for unity with other progressive forces, but Tsvangirai would not be one of them.

“It is very difficult for anyone to join the MDC-T after Tsvangirai completely personalised the party,” he said.

“It is very difficult to join hands with Tsvangirai who continues with his undemocratic tendencies.

“We believe that if you want to communicate with others, you have to find their phone numbers or pay them a visit and begin talks.

“You do not communicate with us through a mass public address.”

Jacob Mafume, the MDC-Renewal spokesperson added: “We have said he must have conversations with himself and then when he is truly a democrat, people can talk.

“It now appears from his standpoint that the movement was created to put him in power and nothing else.

“He has personalised the party in the name of wanting to create one centre of power, words used by (President Robert) Mugabe to mean dictatorship.

“He forgets that democracy is all about creating different centres of power.”

Analysts have said the MDCs should form a united front if they harbour any chances of dislodging Mugabe from power.

MDC-T spokesman, Obert Gutu
MDC-T spokesman, Obert Gutu

MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu, however, dismissed suggestions that Tsvangirai is undemocratic, adding that he had made a genuine call for unity.

Gutu added that the two parties should not be blinded by their personal hatred of Tsvangirai to shoot his calls for unity down.

“The long and short of it is that Morgan Tsvangirai is a tried and tested democrat as is clearly proven by the manner in which he has reconciled with people like Gift Chimanikire, Blessing Chebundo and Job Sikhala,” he said.

“Morgan Tsvangirai’s call for the unity of all democratic forces is genuine and of course, people who just hate him for no apparent reason are entitled to hold their own views.

“The democratic train is not going to be stopped simply because a few people have refused to jump on board.”