Zimpapers Logo

Tendai Biti

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter—
Mr Tendai Biti’s MDC Renewal Team expects legislators aligned to MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai to join them en-masse following National Assembly Speaker Cde Jacob Mudenda’s decision to leave the intra-party dispute to the courts. Renewal Team spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume last Friday said because Cde Mudenda validated their application to protect MPs, legislators would be emboldened to dump Mr Tsvangirai without fear of being ejected from the National Assembly.

“There are many of our MPs who were being held back by the terror tactics of our colleagues, but now that the Speaker has made the decision that protects MPs, they are now free to express themselves as to who they support,” he said.

“We will see so many of them coming out in favour of renewal.”
Mr Tsvangirai’s faction dismissed the claims, with spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora saying: “The MDC hasn’t been stopped from recalling its members and it will proceed to recall.

“The Speaker couldn’t rule on recall because we had not yet submitted our letter to recall.”
The MPs Mr Tsvangirai’s faction wants to dump are Mr Biti (Harare East), Mr Solomon Madzore (Dzivarasekwa), Mr Paul Madzore (Glen View South), Mr Moses Manyengavana (Highfield West), Mr Willias Madzimure (Kambuzuma), Mr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo (Lobengula), Mr Bekithemba Nyathi (Pelandaba- Mpopoma), Ms Evelyn Masaiti (Proportional Representation), Mr Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Mr Reggie Moyo (Luveve) and Mr Watchy Sibanda (Matabeleland South Senator).

Cde Mudenda last Thursday dismissed Mr Tsvangirai’s request to expel from Parliament legislators aligned to Mr Biti, advising him to approach the courts to determine who is in charge of the opposition party.