admin
Samuel Kadungure in Rusape
MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was yesterday involved in a nasty exchange of words with an elderly woman over the imposition of Mavambo leader Dr Simba Makoni to stand on the party’s ticket in Makoni Central. This came after angry supporters boycotted his Vengere Stadium rally in Rusape in protest over the imposition of Dr Makoni.
The provincial executive is accusing Mr Tsvangirai of interfering with the electoral process in Makoni Central because his preferred candidate Ms Grace Kwinjeh was defeated by Mr Patrick Millionaire Sagandira.
The daring unidentified elderly woman shouted:
“Ah hazviite, hatidi isu. Tinoda VaSagandira isu. VaSagandira vakacampaign kubva kare, ndivo tinoziva isu. Ndivo tichandovhotera. Simba Makoni hatimuzive isu. Kana marambidza Sagandira it’s better kuvhotera Zanu-PF than to be mortgaged to vote for a Mavambo candidate.”
This prompted an angry response from Mr Tsvangirai.
“We need discipline. Imi mbuya imi kana musina discipline sudurukai. Tinoda vanhu vanoteerera kana vakuru vachitaura,” said Mr Tsvangirai.
The unpopular move has also sparked a bitter war of words between the defiant MDC-T Manicaland executive and Mr Tsvangirai with the latter defiantly fighting in the corner of the targeted candidates.
Mr Tsvangirai has also imposed little known Ndonga’s Mr Reketayi Semwayo and Mr Giles Mutsekwa in Chipinge Central and Chikanga-Dangamvura, respectively.
MDC-T heavyweights who boycotted the Rusape rally accused Mr Tsvangirai of candidate-shopping and angling Dr Makoni for the finance portfolio so as to eliminate Mr Biti, with whom he is tussling for control of the party.
The executive, led by Mr Julius Magarangoma, which enjoys the behind-the-scenes backing of MDC-T secretary general and Finance Minister Biti and Manicaland bigwig Mr Elton Mangoma, backs Mr Sagandira, and human rights lawyer Arnold Tsunga in the contentious constituencies and has dissociated itself from Dr Makoni.
In a sign of radicalism, MDC-T Manicaland spokesman Mr Pishai Muchauraya, who is on record saying Messrs Sagandira and Tsunga had not withdrawn, was addressing a rally within Mr Tsvangirai’s shouting distance.
Mr Muchauraya professed ignorance over Mr Tsvangirai’s rally.
“I do not know anything about that rally as we have not been briefed about it. I am busy campaigning and I am hearing about his coming from you. I do not know anything. We are not informed,” he said.
Mr Tsvangirai engineered the imposition to facilitate the soft landings of his two coalition partners and his ally Mr Mutsekwa behind the back of the provincial executive that now accuses him of being dictatorial.
Mr Tsvangirai yesterday unveiled Dr Makoni as the imposed candidate, much to the chagrin of supporters of the legitimate MDC-T candidate Mr Sagandira.
Mr Tsvangirai said several initiatives to persuade Mr Sagandira to step down had failed forcing him to rule by decree.
Mr Tsvangirai was forced to cut short his speech after Mr Sagandira’s sympathisers kept interjecting to express their disapproval of Dr Makoni.
“I have tried to engage Sagandira into withdrawing, and we could not get hold of him before the nomination. It is unfortunate he has not agreed to step down for Dr Makoni,” said Mr Tsvangirai amid boos and jeers from the crowd.
The imposition of Dr Makoni has given credence to those detractors who regard Mr Tsvangirai as a dictator.
Mr Tsvangirai further contradicted himself when he said his party was in a fix since Mr Sagandira could no longer withdraw.
This would certainly split the vote in favour of Zanu-PF candidate and Politburo member Cde Patrick Chinamasa, whose campaign has been flowing smoothly.
Cde Chinamasa, who is the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, was being rewarded for the sterling work that he has done at high-level politics and in the inclusive government which the other contestants do not have.
MDC-T provincial executive member Mr Teddy Chipere caused commotion during the rally, prompting Mr Tsvangirai’s security team to drag him out of the empty stadium.
Mr Chipere likened Mr Tsvangirai’s decision to impose Dr Makoni to putting poison in a community well.
“He has donated the seat to Zanu-PF. Save was just born in the same way as Sagandira, and he cannot impose. We will fight for Sagandira. He has been there for MDC-T since the death of the late MP John Nyamande in 2009 and you cannot just dump him like that. It’s cruel, this is dictatorship. Pasi naSimba Makoni,” said Mr Chipere.
Online Reporter