The ghost of October 12 2005 returned to haunt the MDC-T yesterday after a heated debate over the WikiLeaks cables degenerated into near fisticuffs.
The chaos occurred during a meeting of the party’s national executive council where Thamsanqa Mahlangu, MP for Nkulumane, suggested the WikiLeaks cables be discussed.
According to insiders, after Mahlangu raised the issue, others, including Charlton Hwende and Last Maengahama, interjected and said the issue was not important and that in fact, the suspension of Senator Obert Gutu by Harare Province must be reversed.
Gutu was suspended last week for describing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Office as weak in the US cables.
The suggestion reportedly drew the ire of Senator Morgan Femai and Mahlangu who reportedly stood up as if he wanted to beat up Hwende.
“Femai stood and told Hwende he was new in the party, but Chamisa objected and asked Tsvangirai to eject him (Femai) from the meeting for unbecoming behaviour.”
Said an insider: “Chamisa stood up and said what Femai did was unMDC and that the meeting had to debate and deliberate, not be violent.”
In the heat of the moment, Femai allegedly threatened to deal with Chamisa using black magic – to get him struck by lighting. He refused to be ejected saying if he was to go out, Chamisa would have to leave as well. “The president then called for a tea break saying the October 12 demon should be avoided.”
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The original MDC party split on October 12 2005 following differences over whether or not to participate in senatorial elections.
Party spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, confirmed there was heated debate on WikiLeaks, but downplayed the incident.
“There was no one chased out of the meeting. We took a tea break and during the tea break many people, including Chamisa, went out. That is not to say there was no debate on WikiLeaks. There was debate before the resolution was made to reiterate the standing position.”
Femai seemed to confirm the chaos, but referred all questions to Mwonzora.
“I am not allowed to comment to the Press on such issues, so you can talk to Mwonzora,” he said.
