MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka yesterday implored “party rebels” led by former secretary-general Tendai Biti to take advantage of the olive branch extended to them to return to the “big tent”, saying the former Prime Minister was the “real face of democracy” and his brand was undisputed.
RICHARD MUPONDE
Tamborinyoka said his welcome gesture should not be misconstrued as a sign of desperation, but a genuine desire to nurture a culture of democracy within opposition politics.
He said some of the former party members who had joined Biti’s camp had Nicodemusly begged to rejoin the MDC-T.
Tsvangirai told a Press conference in Harare on Saturday that all Renewal Team members had until the end of August to return to the party without any preconditions.
However, Biti’s Renewal Team immediately dismissed the gesture as a desperate manoeuvre to prop up Tsvangirai’s waning political fortunes.
Tamborinyoka yesterday said: “The real thing is what the president said. The real thing is that 50 people knocked at his door asking to be allowed to come back into the party. MDC-T with its magnanimity then extended the open door to all party members, who would want to come back, to do so before end of August.” Tamborinyoka said Tsvangirai was still a big brand in the country’s politics and a force to reckon with.
“His brand is undisputed. This is why you see people attacking him left, right and centre even if he means well,” he said.
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“He’s being sincere in extending the open door to party supporters to come back. There is no harm and no malice in that.
“We have seen no drama when Job Sikhala, who had his own party, rejoined the party, when Mudzumwe [Joubert], Mkhosi [Edward] and Tracy Mutinhiri, who was Zanu PF women’s league political commissar, came on board.
“This is the democracy which we practice. We are saying the door is open. So what’s wrong with that?”
Biti broke ranks with Tsvangirai’s executive and formed his own MDC Renewal Team a few months ago accusing the former Premier of dictatorship and alleged sexual scandals.
