THE MDC-T’s national executive is planning to purge all party bigwigs accused of pushing for party leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s ouster, NewsDay has learnt. STAFF REPORTER
MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the planned move, but declined to identify the targeted members.
“Dispclinary action will be taken against everyone who went to the Press without authority, not only (deputy treasurer-general Elton) Mangoma, but all the people who went to the Press. This was the recommendation of the national executive of the party in January,” Mwonzora said.
However, sources close to Tsvangirai’s office told NewsDay yesterday that the purge was targeting Mangoma, secretary-general Tendai Biti, national youth secretary-general Promise Mkwananzi and youth chairman Solomon Madzore, among others.
Incidentally, Mangoma, Mkwananzi and Biti were assaulted by youths allegedly aligned to Tsvangirai following a meeting at the party headquarters in Harare on Saturday.
The youths accused the trio of campaigning for Tsvangirai to rescind his post.
Others who have come out in the open calling for leadership renewal in the MDC-T are exiled party treasurer-general Roy Bennett and national executive members Eddie Cross and Iain Kay.
National youth spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo also confirmed the planned disciplinary action, saying Mkwananzi would be taken to task for issuing a statement contrary to the position of the youth assembly on leadership renewal.
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“The party’s disciplinary committee will work on Mkwananzi for spreading lies to the people of Zimbabwe. What he said, he spoke as an individual and not representing the youths, so action will be taken on him,” Hlatywayo said.
However, Mkwananzi yesterday insisted that his remarks were in line with a resolution agreed to by party youths.
“We don’t make resolutions as individuals and we can’t name people in resolutions and the statement I issued as the secretary-general was official,” he said.
Mkwananzi accused Mwonzora of lying that Zanu PF youths were involved in the weekend beatings at Harvest House.
“The first step is to admit that we have a problem because I am their leader and I know those who beat me up,” Mkwananzi said.
“The reason why we have not gone to the police is we know what they did was criminal and unlawful, but we still have confidence that the internal structures of the party can be able to deal with the issue. We have, however, not received anything from the leaders asking us to present a report of what happened, not even a phone call to check.”
Meanwhile, Tsvangirai will be headed for Bulawayo soon in a bid to consolidate his grip at the helm of the party following weekend clashes in Harare.
National organising secretary Nelson Chamisa yesterday said the planned trip to Bulawayo was top of the party’s agenda as it “was a liberated zone”.
