WILL MDC-T LAST?

Mixed feelings have been witnessed nationwide following instabilities in the MDC-T political party. The Movement for Democratic Change MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai was formed in 1999 when they challenged Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF, the party which was enjoying and still enjoys political power since independence in 1980. Therefore, it can be said that Morgan Tsvangirai is a brave man. He has continuously fought Robert Mugabe even though he has never the nation’s harmonized elections held since his party came into power. Tsvangirai’s party has fought head on and is still fighting up to today.  MDC-T gained popularity and is one of the powerful political parties in the country with many supporters who are crying for political change in Zimbabwe. MDC-T has managed to stay positive and continue to criticize the government and call for leadership change.

Opposition Leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

However, following the internal fights within the MDC-T, citizens are kept at their toes to see whether the party will last till the next harmonized elections to be held in 2018. A rational citizen can argue that instead of the party to be reconstructing and re-strategise themselves, the party officials and those concerned are fighting each other to an extent of making their fights public through the social media. In an interview with the Southern Eye early this week, the National Spokesperson for the party, Douglas Mwonzora, confirmed that the party will monitor social media (facebook ) against their party members to ensure that internal party fights are not made public via social media. It is alleged that party members have been disseminating information about the party and that hate language against their colleagues dominated these messages sent out to the public. Mwonzora made a promise that all those who are found publicizing internal party affairs will be dealt with.  “We know there are a number of MDC people denigrating other officers, we will deal with them. There is no good reason for them to avoid due process of law. I am going to deal with anyone posting hate language against anyone and they will be brought to book,” Mwonzora warned.

The party fights are more serious and very controversial. Lately party officials were suspended and clashes were also seen when these suspensions were declared unconstitutional thereby null and void. Manicaland provincial chairperson Julius Magarangoma and spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya were suspended facing charges of offensive language against their party members. Harare provincial spokesperson Obert Gutu and Mashonaland West national representative Chalton Hwende are claimed to have been very active on Facebook and they have been posting hate speech against their leadership describing them as “puppets, puppeteers and rebels”. The two were allegedly angling themselves for top leadership positions in the opposition party and were believed to be close to party leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Nothing has been done to them at the moment but action will be taken as promised by Mwonzora.

There is also alleged rift between MDC-T Secretary-General Tendai Biti and Organising Secretary Nelson Chamisa. It is claimed that these two clashed over the suspension of Magarangoma and Muchauraya. Biti ordered the pair to ignore the suspension order issued by Chamisa describing it as unconstitutional. It is said that Senior MDC-T officials have met and resolved that Chamisa be charged for overstepping his mandate and fuelling divisions in the party. It is claimed that Chamisa is the biggest problem in the party and he is dividing the party all in the name of becoming the Secretary-General, but Chamisa has vehemently denied the claims that he wanted to become party secretary-general at the next congress.

Job Sikhala who has rejoined the MDC-T, last week addressed MDC-T supporters at Stanley Square in Makokoba, Bulawayo said personal egos must be put aside and that his reunion with Tsvangirai was going to usher in a new democratic dispensation in the country. He said Mugabe and his party must be removed from power. Cries and complaints about massive rigging in the 2013 harmonised elections must be ignored and new measures must be taken in order to win the upcoming 2018 elections. A number of individuals who had broke away from MDC-T  in 2005 have rejoined the party and Job Sikhala is one of them. Meanwhile, Tsvangirai is expected to resolve the factional fights which have threatened to split the party. How successful will these measures be, and can people vote MDC-T into power? Credit must be given to Tsvangirai who is said met Tendai Biti to see the way forward not dwell on issues of lesser importance.