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MDC-T Manicaland provincial treasurer Mr Brian James has resigned from the party and fired a broadside at members aligned to party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s camp for having a penchant for corruption and violence.
Mr James, who was once mayor for Mutare, was Mr Tsvangirai’s key ally in Manicaland, but he has now written a letter of resignation.
The resignation comes after Mr James’ recent fallout with provincial party secretary Mr Misheck Kagurabadza and two others aligned to Mr Tsvangirai’s faction over control of MDC-T assets.

Mr James reported the trio to the police after they allegedly broke into a party office and looted property.
The three were acquitted in court.

In his letter to Mr Tsvangirai, Mr James said chief among his reasons for resigning were “violence and criminal activity”.
He also hinted at disorganisation in last year’s harmonised elections in which ZANU-PF crushed MDC-T.

“My reasons for this resignation are many and varied, but suffice it to include my dismay at conduct carried out by members in Manicaland, with support in the national standing committee, that are contrary to the party’s founding principles,” he said.

“It has become increasingly difficult for me to defend the party in private and public forums while witnessing violence, corruption and criminal activity and the inaction of the national leadership of containing this activity.

“These concerns have dated back to my suspension and tenure as Mayor of Mutare, the party primary elections and the distribution of party regalia and the general conduct of the MDC election campaign 2013.”

Mr James added: “I have given 10 years of my time to further the founding principles of the Movement for Democratic Change and have witnessed the sacrifices of so many loyal supporters over these years only to see their efforts betrayed by careless and unnecessary actions of some members who seem to find it difficult to distance themselves from and engage in the most heinous crimes.”

Mr James said there was confusion in the party as seen by Mr Tapiwa Mashakada variably as MDC-T acting secretary-general as well as the substantive holder of the post.

“This being done due to the confusion about legitimacy of various national council meetings earlier this year and the fact that he refers to himself as the acting secretary-general in the letter, but has signed the letter off as the secretary-general.

“The content of the letter would, however, assume I still hold office and membership of the MDC-T and as such would like to, for the avoidance of all doubt, tender my resignation from the party and, therefore, from the position of provincial treasurer,” he said.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said anyone was free to resign from the party, though he was yet to see the letter.