MDC-T Factionalism Worsens
'Disciplinary action will be taken against Youth Assembly secretary Promise Mkhwananzi, national executive member Last Maengahama, Jacob Mafume and Toendepi Shonhe'
WASHINGTON DC — Divisions continue to rock the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation of former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai despite his pronouncements recently that all was well in the labour-backed party. Simmering divisions came to the fore with the so-called renewal faction calling on Tsvangirai to step down and pave way for a new leader in time for the country’s next elections expected in 2018. Some of the party members in the renewal faction convened a press conference at the weekend rubbishing assertions by Tsvangirai that there was unity in the party. But just like what happened with former Finance Minister Simba Makoni when he left Zanu-PF, no big party guns were present at the MDC-T renewal group’s press conference where they continue to press for changes in the party. Party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora said disciplinary action will be taken against Youth Assembly secretary Promise Mkhwananzi, national executive member Last Maengahama, lawyer Jacob Mafume and director general Toendepi Shonhe, for convening what he said was an illegal press conference that undermined the party’s constitution. Mafume, who is suspended deputy treasurer general Elton Mangoma’s lawyer, was also unveiled as the renewal team’s interim spokesman. The four on Saturday maintained that contrary to Tsvangirai’s claims that the factions in the party have buried the hatchet, there was no unity in labour-backed movement at all. They said life has not been the same in the party since Mangoma’s suspension that followed his letter to Tsvangirai asking him to step down. Mkhwananzi said the renewal faction wants the MDC-T to be guided by the principles of the 2011 congress in its activities. Independent political analyst Charles Mutasa said the MDC-T should put its house in order if it wants to give Zanu-PF a strong challenge in the 2018 elections. Meanwhile, Mangoma told Studio 7 in an exclusive interview that time has come for the MDC-T to replace Tsvangirai with what he says would be a better leader. Mangoma said Tsvangirai, like President Robert Mugabe, is a dictator.