EXPELLED MDC-T deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma yesterday came out fighting, vowing that he will not be forced out of the opposition party using illegal means.
BY PAIDAMOYO MUZULU SENIOR REPORTER
Mangoma said he would stay put accusing the MDC-T leadership of dishonesty after he said it cited a non-existent clause to summarily dismiss him and three others during Thursday’s national executive council meeting.
MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told journalists on Thursday that the national council had by more than a two-thirds majority of its membership summarily expelled Mangoma, Youth Assembly secretary-general Promise Mkwananzi, lawyer Jacob Mafume and national executive member Last Maengahama in terms of the clause 5:11 of the party’s constitution.
Mafume, speaking on behalf of Mangoma and other expelled members, yesterday said the national council’s decision was “dishonest and evil” when they quoted a non-existent clause to expel them.
“They used a non-existent clause to expel us and that is bad at law and we do not consider ourselves as expelled as their decision is null and void,” Mafume said.
He added: “There is rank madness in MDC-T’s cockpit as the party purports to be democrats yet they trash their own constitution using a bogus national council to pass a kangaroo judgment.”
Mwonzora was not immediately available for comment while national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa said he was in the middle of a lecture when contacted.
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Clause 5:11A of the MDC-T constitution reads: “A member may be expelled if: the national council (by a two-thirds majority of all its members) is of the opinion that his or her continued membership would be seriously detrimental to the interests of the party: Provided that the member shall be notified in writing of the grounds on which the national council is considering the termination of his or her membership and is given a fair opportunity to make representations in writing or in person to the national council whereafter the national council shall consider the member’s written or oral comments and respond to them before making their decision.”
Mafume further said the “purported expulsions” were purges targeted at removing possible challengers to party leader Morgan Tsvangirai at an early congress expected to be held early next year.
“What Tsvangirai is doing (expulsions) is trying to manipulate the voters’ roll in anticipation of weeding out competition before the congress. Tsvangirai is bringing the party into disrepute by such actions,” he said.
The matter is also still pending before the High Court where Mangoma is challenging his suspension.
