HARARE —
Expelled members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai claim that party leader is already manipulating the MDC-T voters roll in his favor ahead of the labour-backed party’s elective congress expected to be held sometime next year.
Addressing a news conference in the capital Friday, Jacob Mafume, the spokesperson of those calling for leadership renewal in the MDC-T, described their expulsion Thursday as null and void.
The MDCT's supreme decision making body between congresses, the National Council, met and resolved to expel its then suspended treasurer general Elton Mangoma, national executive members Last Maengehama and Jacob Mafume and general secretary of the Youth Assembly, Promise Mkwananzi for bringing the name of the opposition party into disrepute.
Mafume, who claimed Tsvangirai was damaging his legacy by clinging to power, accused the former prime minister of using suspension and expulsion of office bearers as a tactic to manipulate the party's voters' roll in his favour ahead of the MDC-T's elective congress that party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora says maybe held early next year if resources are available.
Mafume said they will continue interacting with the opposition's structures despite their expulsion which they described as a quote "summary expulsion that fly in the face of natural justice".
Mafume said they should have been afforded an opportunity to defend themselves.
Mafume aptly confirmed that former Finance Minister Tendai Biti is in their camp. Biti has not been talking much about the renewal issue but once described Mangoma's suspension as "voidable".
Mwonzora told Studio 7 by phone that his party no longer has anything to do with Mangoma, Mafume, Mkwananzi and Maengehama following their expulsion.
Tsvangirai says he will remain at the helm of the MDC until a congress has been held. He is on record calling for all those opposing Zanu PF to form a united front in order to mount a strong challenge in elections expected in 2018.
Addressing a news conference in the capital Friday, Jacob Mafume, the spokesperson of those calling for leadership renewal in the MDC-T, described their expulsion Thursday as null and void.
The MDCT's supreme decision making body between congresses, the National Council, met and resolved to expel its then suspended treasurer general Elton Mangoma, national executive members Last Maengehama and Jacob Mafume and general secretary of the Youth Assembly, Promise Mkwananzi for bringing the name of the opposition party into disrepute.
Mafume, who claimed Tsvangirai was damaging his legacy by clinging to power, accused the former prime minister of using suspension and expulsion of office bearers as a tactic to manipulate the party's voters' roll in his favour ahead of the MDC-T's elective congress that party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora says maybe held early next year if resources are available.
Mafume said they will continue interacting with the opposition's structures despite their expulsion which they described as a quote "summary expulsion that fly in the face of natural justice".
Mafume said they should have been afforded an opportunity to defend themselves.
Mafume aptly confirmed that former Finance Minister Tendai Biti is in their camp. Biti has not been talking much about the renewal issue but once described Mangoma's suspension as "voidable".
Mwonzora told Studio 7 by phone that his party no longer has anything to do with Mangoma, Mafume, Mkwananzi and Maengehama following their expulsion.
Tsvangirai says he will remain at the helm of the MDC until a congress has been held. He is on record calling for all those opposing Zanu PF to form a united front in order to mount a strong challenge in elections expected in 2018.