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Herald Reporter
Embattled MDC-T leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, yesterday pleaded with fellow opposition leaders, Mr Job Sikhala, Professors Lovemore Madhuku and Welshman Ncube to return to the party. Mr Sikhala and Prof Ncube separated with Mr Tsvangirai in 2005 to form a splinter MDC while Prof Madhuku said  he was turning the NCA into a political party last year.

Addressing a crowd of party supporters in Budiriro high- density suburb, Mr Tsvangirai said there was a need to strengthen the party by reuniting with old foes.

“I am not going to push anyone out of the tent, but it is up to you should you decide to stay outside the fold.
“My view is that in the democratic movement we have, we need more people in the tent.

‘‘VanaSikhala ngavadzoke, vana Welshman (Ncube) ngavadzoke, vanaMadhuku ngavadzoke,” said Mr Tsvangirai.
“You must come back so that we become one entity to fight Zanu-PF for democratic change in the country. Then there are those who are tired, if you are tired just rest.”

Mr Tsvangirai said he was not yet leaving the party presidency, saying leadership renewal would only be done through congress.
“Unfortunately, you will have me for a long time. I am not going to die in office.

‘‘Ndinotodawo kuzowana nguva yekuzorora, ndichienda kuholiday, nebhebhi rangu pasaidhi,” he said.
He hinted that congress might be held earlier than scheduled so that it clears the chaos characterizing the party.

He mocked Mr Mangoma and others for failing to learn for the past 15 years that the party had subsisted.
Mr Tsvangirai said he would soon approach party supporters to help with donations that would sustain the movement, saying it was not prudent to continue relying on donors.

“It is high time that Zimbabweans underwrite their own struggle.
“You can’t continue to say to donors, ‘thank you’ all the time. If you are proud people you must be able to underwrite your struggle. Munofanira kuita mudeme mudeme, ingakwaMakandiwa munobhadhara maUS$10 nema$20,” he said.

Donors cut funding to the MDC-T in light of successive losses to Zanu-PF, especially last year’s crushing defeat.
Mr Tsvangirai accused some foreign diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe of meddling in his party’s internal politics to the extent of trying to determine who should be the leader.

“Is that the role of diplomats? Why don’t you just write to your capitals?” he asked.
He said the party would in future not participate in national elections, if political reforms are not implemented.
Mr Mangoma, who was recently assaulted at Harvest House, the party’s headquarters, party secretary general Mr Tendai Biti, Harare provincial chairperson Paul Madzore and his younger brother, who is also National Youth Assembly leader, Solomon Madzore, were conspicuous by their absence at the rally.