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Mr Elton Mangoma

Farirai Machivenyika  and Lloyd Gumbo
BATTLE lines have been drawn in MDC-T after deputy treasurer Mr Elton Mangoma asked party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai to step down.Mr Mangoma presented his motion at the Standing Committee meeting last Friday, saying Mr Tsvangirai had lost credibility because of his conduct as leader of the party and in his personal life.

There are allegations that he also offered Mr Tsvangirai a US$3 million golden handshake to step down. Party officials have since taken to social networks castigating Mr Mangoma while others are fighting from his corner.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said there was nothing wrong with party officials criticising Mr Mangoma on public platforms since his letter was also in the public domain.

Mr Mangoma’s call follows those of self-exiled party treasurer Mr Roy Bennett, former Marondera Central MP Mr Ian Kay, Bulawayo South MP Eddie Cross, and former organising secretary Engineer Elias Mudzuri who has expressed interest in leading the party.

Mr Tsvangirai’s blue-eyed boys told The Herald at the weekend that they would do everything to foil the ouster attempts.
“We know Mangoma is being used by (Roy) Bennett (former MDC-T Treasurer) in this attempt but we will not watch them embarrass our leader like that,” said a member of the national executive.

“We know that together with Mudzuri, they are being used by Bennett and some die-hard Rhodies who think Morgan sold out. We believe the US$3 million allegedly offered to Tsvangirai by Mangoma was raised by Bennett.”

Another source added: “Mangoma is now finished. He will not survive the congress whenever it is going to be held.
“We are disappointed that someone who is as educated as he is, can’t see that Bennett wants to use him and others to pursue white people’s neo-liberal and neo-imperialist agenda.”

There are reports that several factions have established roots in MDC-T with secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti, Mr Mangoma, Mr Mudzuri and deputy party president Ms Thokozani Khupe leading different internal formations.

But insiders explained the political dynamics at play.
“TB (Tendai Biti) is intelligent enough to know that they can’t dislodge MT (Morgan Tsvangirai) at congress. He is now retreating, leaving these other people in the open. Mangoma and Mudzuri are daydreaming. As for Khupe, she is just confused.”

The Women’s Assembly also came out in support of Mr Tsvangirai yesterday soon after its national executive met in Harare.
Its chairperson Mrs Theresa Makone said there was no need to convene an extraordinary congress.

“The assembly reiterates its support for the leadership of the MDC under the leadership of Morgan Tsvangirai to achieve real change in our country.

“We are solidly behind our president and as the MDC Women’s Assembly we dissociate ourselves from media statements on the health of our party.”

Mrs Makone said Mr Mangoma’s letter did not show any need for convening an extraordinary or emergency congress.
“There is nothing that has happened in our party that warrants calling of an emergency or extraordinary congress. If there is going to be rejuvenation of the party, it has to be done in a normal and orderly manner.

“The MDC is a democratic and disciplined party we have agreed that let’s discuss this (leadership renewal) within the party structure. We don’t know how this letter purportedly written by the treasurer general found its way into the media. It is up to the chairman to see how that happened,” she said.

Mrs Makone expressed fears that the party risked splitting again like it did in October 2005.
“We don’t find anything in that letter that makes leadership renewal a must. This party has been split before and we are not going to watch our party being split again for no good reason,” she said.

But other senior officials said there was nothing wrong with Mr Mangoma’s call.
“Mangoma raised pertinent points which Morgan himself can’t dispute. Who doesn’t know that his reputation has been soiled irretrievably? Besides, we call ourselves democrats, why then should it be a crime if someone calls for democratic change of guard,” queried a national executive member.

A national council member added: “What Mangoma did is what most of the guys found difficult obviously knowing the repercussions because we know Morgan will obviously set his ‘dogs’ on anyone who challenges him like what happened prior to the split with Welshman (Ncube) and the other guys in 2005. I won’t be surprised if Mangoma is attacked by hooligans the next time he comes to Harvest House.

“In-as-much-as Morgan would have wanted to go, there are some people like (Mr Nelson) Chamisa, (Mr Obert) Gutu, Mwonzora and (Mr Gift) Chimanikire who are urging him to hold on because they are lining themselves for positions at the congress hoping that Morgan prevails. But we are going to fight it to the end.

“We are strategising to make sure there is change of guard whether they like it or not. This is a workers’ project. It doesn’t belong to an individual.”

Mr Gutu took to Facebook on Sunday and unleashed an apparent attack on Mr Mangoma. He posted on his wall; “Now, who is this little, misguided nincompoop with an inflated ego? Who is this damn corrupt latecomer with a twisted logic handled by racist shadowy forces behind the scenes but still day-dreaming that his voice can be heard? Surely, surely the gods must really be crazy!”

National executive member, Mr Chalton Hwende also posted on his Facebook page: “Capitalists teaming up with ex-Rhodesian land barons against the working class, interesting times really.”

He then posted a picture of a swollen Mr Tsvangirai after he had been bashed by the police in 2007 after storming Machipisa police station; “You were nearly killed for us and we will die for you.”

But former Makoni South MP, Mr Pishai Muchauraya also took to his Facebook wall; “I can confirm that, I am 1 000 percent supportive of Elton Mangoma’s document.”

He posted another one; “Zimbabwe needs strong opposition leaders who can confront the regime head on, we don’t need those who dine with the enemy.”

Contacted to comment on his Facebook post, Mr Gutu said: “I will not say anything more than what I stated on my Facebook wall.”
Mr Hwende said: “Please speak to the national spokesperson Mr Mwonzora, as we are not allowed to speak on behalf of the party. Views I express on my wall are my own personal views on the matter concerned and do not represent the party position.”

Mr Mwonzora said the standing committee unanimously shot down Mr Mangoma’s motion adding that the latter would not be victimised for expressing his views.

“The position of the party and president Tsvangirai is that it’s not an offence for anybody to express their opinion. Anyway, the matter was settled by the standing committee which unanimously rejected the paper Mangoma presented.

“However, the position of the national council is that officials and members of the party must not discuss leadership issues in the press but use our political platforms.

“Further, in-as-much-as Honourable Mangoma’s letter is in the public domain, criticisms and reactions from party officials and members can also be made in the public domain. So there is nothing wrong with people who are criticising him,” said Mr Mwonzora.