Factional Strife Hits Tsvangirai Party

28 April 2011

JOSTLING for top positions within the fractious MDC-T will hit fever pitch today ahead of Saturday’s election of senior party leaders at the explosive congress which takes place against a backdrop of internal strife, violence and intimidation.

The congress, which reaches its zenith tomorrow with the election of the party’s political heavyweights, is widely seen as a democratic test for the MDC-T and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai. It is also a barometer of the party’s preparedness for general elections and its ability to effectively lead the country. The MDC-T congress will come up with a resolution on elections.

Coming once every five years, congress is the supreme organ of the MDC-T and is composed of all members of the national council, national executive of women, national executive of youth, provincial executive committees, the chairperson, secretary, organising secretary and treasurer from each district executive committee and provincial and district levels of the national assemblies of women and youth and external assemblies, the chairperson of each ward executive committee and party MPs, mayors and chairpersons of local authorities.

Observations at the party congress in Bulawayo showed the vicious fight for positions and influence is mainly concentrated within the top party structures, especially among members of the party’s standing committee which includes Tsvangirai (president), Thokozani Khupe (deputy president), Lovemore Moyo (chairman), Tendai Biti (secretary general), Tapiwa Mashakada (deputy secretary general), Roy Bennett (treasurer), Elton Mangoma (deputy treasurer), Elias Mudzuri (organising secretary), Morgan Komichi (deputy organising secretary), Nelson Chamisa (information & publicity), Theresa Makone (women chairperson) and Thamsanqa Mahlangu (youth leader).

Battles within the MDC-T have become even more explosive amid revelations that Zanu PF and state security agents were fuelling power struggles and bickering in a bid to leave the party fractured and weak.

Senior MDC-T officials said last night Biti was mainly targeted for removal by a group of hostile colleagues working with Zanu PF officials and state agents who want to weaken their party.

“There is intense and vicious competition for positions within the party. Only Tsvangirai and Bennett are 100% safe, otherwise the rest of us have to fight it out all the way,” a top MDC official said. “Even those who are commanding comfortable leads such Khupe and Chamisa have to sweat for victory because competitors are still breathing hard on their necks.”

Another official said the wrangling has been exacerbated by “Zanu PF and state security interference”.

“The party is heavily infiltrated. When history is written people would be shocked. Some of the candidates fighting for positions are being sponsored by Zanu PF and state security. They are very well-known,” the official said.

“While we must accept responsibility for infighting and violence by some rogue party elements, whom Tsvangirai said will be expelled, we must also not overlook the issue of external interference which has in all fairness fuelled violent behaviour and brutality.”

Initially everyone was challenged except Tsvangirai, although the party leader himself has been feeling the heat due to manoeuvres by his interval rivals who have been plotting to first weaken him and then oust him at later stages. Tsvangirai moved swiftly to crush opposition by targeting Mudzuri who for a long time has been widely seen as over-ambitious and plotting his removal. The MDC-T leader last year dropped Mudzuri as cabinet minister, paving way for his removal from the top party structures.

As a result, Mudzuri is almost certainly going to be the biggest casualty of the MDC-T congress. Only a miracle will save Mudzuri from being defeated by Chamisa, a close Tsvangirai ally who is also associated with Biti. Tsvangirai and Biti are uneasy bedfellows. Although the two have publicly said they are not rivals, there is no love lost between the two most powerful MDC-T officials.

Apart from Tsvangirai, the only other safe official is Bennett who is no longer under any challenge after Mangoma and Sekai Holland withdrew to fight it out for the position of deputy treasurer. Khupe is also safe despite pushing and shoving around her by Norman Mabena and Tabitha Khumalo.

Moyo, who is also speaker of parliament, is being challenged by Lucia Matibenga. Although Moyo is ahead, Matibenga has caused enough discomfort for him to end up trying to brandish the regional and ethnic card to survive. Moyo has been widely quoted as saying he has heard that someone from outside Matabeleland (Matibenga) region has been trying to challenge him but warned that would upset the tribal balance in the party if he is defeated.

Biti is also battling a spirited challenge from senior national executive member and fellow minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro. In their contest there are murmurs of tribalism as Biti, who hails from Harare, suspects he was being targeted for removal by a tribal cabal from Masvingo.

Other top standing committee members are also jittery as their positions are under threat. Officials will today seek to make the final push to retain their positions or outmanoeuvre their rivals ahead of tomorrow’s elections of the top leadership.

AllAfrica – All the Time