Accessibility links

Breaking News

MDC Formation of Zimbabwe PM Tsvangirai Prepares May Congress


The MDC formation of Prime Minister Tsvangirai will hold its congress from April 30th to May 1 in Bulawayo after women’s and youth congresses. But preparations are mired in controversy with reports of divisions within the party.

Reporter Irwin Chifera has more from Harare.

As the MDC formation of Prime Minister Tsvangirai prepares to go to a crucial congress, reports of vicious infighting, violations of the constitution and related charges are beginning to surface as activists jostle for positions.

So much is the discord in the party, sources say, that insiders are even alleging that the arrest of senior party officials like Energy Minister Elton Mangoma were instigated from within.

Sources said this in-fighting, previously found at the echelons of the party, has now spread to the party’s Diaspora provinces and grassroots level.

Today the privately-owned Zimbabwe Independent reports that rivalry between Mzilikazi Senator, Matson Hlalo and State Enterprises Minister Gordon Moyo, over the chairmanship of the province, resulted in near fights between their supporters last Saturday.

The Zimbabwe Independent reports that, youths supporting Hlalo, were moblised from the suburbs of Thorngrove and Makokoba to harass Moyo’s supporters. The newspaper reports that the two rival‘s supporters traded insults almost coming to blows.

Tension between the two is said to be so high that party President Morgan Tsvangirai had to travel to Bulawayo, three weeks ago to ease the tension.

In Masvingo several people are said to have been injured during skirmishes at a restructuring meeting at Mucheke Hall last month. The privately-owned Newsday reported that the party’s youth’s organizing secretary was hospitalized over injuries sustained during the skirmishes.

Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere turned to political analysts Charles Mangongera and Promise Mkhwananzi to discuss whether the infighting within the MDC is healthy competition or not.

Mangongera says the problems in the MDC mirror the general inculcated culture in Zimbabwe to use violence and unorthodox ways to settle political disputes.

The Movement for Democratic Change formation of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Tsvangirai is preparing for a congress to be held April 30-May 1 in Bulawayo, but the exercise has already generated controversy with reports of internal divisions.

As the MDC formation of prime minister Tsvangirai prepares to go to a crucial congress, reports of vicious infighting, violations of the constitution and related charges are beginning to surface as activists jostle for positions.

So much is the discord in the party, sources said, that insiders are even alleging that the arrest of senior party officials like Energy minister Elton Mangoma were instigated from within.

Sources said this in-fighting, previously found at the echelons of the party, has now spread to the party’s diaspora provinces and grassroots level, amdist allegations of bribery.

Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere turned to political analysts Charles Mangongera and Promise Mkhwananzi to discuss whether the infighting within the MDC is healthy competition or not.

Mangongera said the problems in the MDCc mirror the general incalcated culture in Zimbabwe to use violence and unorthodox ways to settle political disputes.

XS
SM
MD
LG