MATABELELAND Liberation Organisation (MLO) leader Paul Siwela, who is in self-imposed exile in an undisclosed country, yesterday predicted that MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his close lieutenants would prevail against rebels fighting for his ouster, saying the former Premier still commanded mass support.
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Siwela fled an alleged assassination plot early this year while awaiting judgment in a treason trial in which he and two accomplices were accused of trying to topple the government.
In a Facebook interview yesterday, Siwela described the coup plotters allegedly led by MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti as misguided elements.
On Saturday, the renewal proponents calling itself MDC Team said the party’s national council had voted for the suspension of Tsvangirai and his close lieutenants among them his deputy Thokozani Khupe, national organizing secretary Nelson Chamisa, his deputy Abednico Bhebhe, national chairman Lovemore Moyo, his deputy Morgan Komichi and national spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora for allegedly using violence against dissenting voices.
The meeting was reportedly chaired by Samuel Sipepa Nkomo who made the announcement which also included the lifting of the suspension of deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma, national executive member Last Maengahama, youth assembly secretary-general Promise Mkhwananzi and lawyer Jacob Mafume.
Said Siwela: “What would the MDC-T rebels do differently from what Morgan has done through democratic means? The fate of the country and grand finale is between Zanu PF and MLO.”
“Albeit, Morgan will ultimately emerge victorious as ordinary people would stand with him. Zanu PF through the State security apparatus, State-controlled media, Parliament and the courts, would intervene and cause much confusion that would remain active until the 2018 elections.
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“The MDC-T rebels have played into Zanu PF’s shenanigans to elongate Zanu PF’s lifespan. [President Robert] Mugabe or his appointed successor would be declared a winner in 2018 and I wonder how people fail to decode Mugabe’s statement when he said ‘the bullet cannot be defeated by the ball-point pen’,” he said.
Siwela said the MDC-T rebels should have arranged with their Western funders to give Tsvangirai some golden parachute and he would have agreed to it if it was a good figure given that he lost his dear wife on duty and his image had been bruised.
“The Western funders can afford that and Morgan can then assist his successor, not the way they are treating him. They could also arrange some beautiful woman to take home to Humanikwa for his retirement. At least, he would have something to show to the villagers for his political contributions to the struggle.”
