MDC-T deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma yesterday accused party leader Morgan Tsvangirai and an unnamed national executive member of inciting violence by failing to rein in youths threatening to “deal” with him.
BY MOSES MATENGA STAFF REPORTER
In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, Mangoma said Tsvangirai was being fooled by bootlickers, claiming loyalty to him.
“These youths are being sent by some people and we know their handlers,” Mangoma said.
“No one can say they are doing it by themselves. One of the national executive members made some remarks to incite the youths. As you witnessed, you saw who addressed those youths on Monday.”
Quizzed on whether he was implicating Tsvangirai for inciting violence since he was the one who addressed the angry party youths, Mangoma quipped: “Why would he address them? It shows he is acknowledging them, but trying to act as if he is anti-violence.”
On insults and threats from Tsvangirai loyalists, Mangoma said: “One should find out who were real loyalists and define the word loyal. If there is one person who is loyal, it’s me who is telling him the truth, others who are attacking me are all opportunists.
“We are a democratic party and people must be able to listen and put counter views. It’s not a shouting match and we can’t form a democracy where people fight.”
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All hell broke loose for Mangoma after he wrote a letter to Tsvangirai urging him to step down. He was also reportedly behind the $3 million dangled to Tsvangirai for him to resign.
The letter which was leaked to the media did not go down well with Tsvangirai loyalists who have hurled all sorts of insults at Mangoma with youths openly threatening to deal with him on Monday.
Tsvangirai addressed the youths urging them to stop the violence against Mangoma or any other party leaders. Mangoma, however, rubbished the MDC-T leader’s efforts as insincere.
This is not the first time youths loyal to Tsvangirai have threatened or beaten up those who opposed him. Some analysts yesterday said the MDC-T needed time for self-introspection and should stop insulting Mangoma without interrogating his concerns.
Analyst Alexander Rusero said: “They need self-introspection and should stop purging Mangoma. The letter that he wrote is clear and has clear questions anyone with the MDC at heart should ask.”
