Call for Tsvangirai to Step Down Angers MDC-T Big Wigs
Mangoma's proposal urging Tsvangirai to step down provoked the ire of national executive members such as organizing secretary Nelson Chamisa
HARARE — The national executive committee of the Movement for Democratic Change formation led by former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday shot down proposals by the party's deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma for the opposition leader to quit his post. Sources close to the meeting told Studio 7 that the Standing Committee of the MDC-T met first in the morning to discuss the issue before referring it to the national executive committee where Mangoma reportedly introduced the subject of leadership renewal that found no takers. The sources said the former energy minister's proposal provoked the ire of national executive members such as the party's organizing secretary Nelson Chamisa, deputy national chairman Morgan Komichi and former chairperson of Harare Province, Morgan Femai, among others. This follows this week's endorsement of Mr. Tsvangirai by his party's women's assembly and the Harare provincial chapter of the youth wing. MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, told Studio 7 after the meeting that their executive resolved that Mr. Tsvangirai remains party president, adding the executive is satisfied with his leadership. Mangoma told Studio 7 on Wednesday that leadership renewal is necessary in the party saying this would re-invigorate the labour-backed movement ahead of the 2018 national elections. He added that he was not gunning for the presidency of the party but was prepared to serve in the opposition party in any capacity. Mangoma said he will push his party's supreme decision-making body between congresses, the National Council to adopt his proposal of leadership change. However, Mwonzora said both the national executive and the national council had already resolved that they had confidence in Mr. Tsvangirai's leadership. Mwonzora added that it is now up to the disciplinary committee of the party to see if Mangoma violated any resolutions and laws of the party through his document suggesting leadership change that was leaked to the press. Studio 7 failed to speak to Mangoma after the meeting. As the former energy minister left the MDC-T's Harvest House headquarters, he was jeered by Mr. Tsvangirai's faithful who used words that cannot be aired. Mr. Tsvangirai reportedly told Friday's meeting that he had no problems with party members discussing his succession although he reportedly stressed that this should be done through the party's structures as this was an internal issue.