MDC-T yet to probe intra-party violence

preceded his party’s congress in Bulawayo as political observers say he is scared of undertaking such a process that exposes his party.
MDC-T is unlikely to set up such a committee anytime soon as this might taint its image ahead of an extra-ordinary Sadc summit set for Namibia next week.
In the past, Mr Tsvangirai has been alleging violence against his supporters by Zanu-PF, a claim the revolutionary party has dismissed.
Two weeks have elapsed since Mr Tsvangirai pledged to “urgently” set up an independent commission to investigate violence and expel those involved. Senior party officials were fingered in the violence although on Thursday party spokesperson, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, claimed other political parties fuelled the skirmishes.
The newly elected MDC-T national executive met in Harare on Wednesday to review the congress and merely reiterated the need to set up an independent commission.
“The commission is in the process of being set up. We met as a standing committee yesterday (Wednesday) and reiterated the call by the president of the party to set a commission of inquiry,” Mr Mwonzora said.
He said members of the commission would be announced soon.
Mr Mwonzora claimed the delay in setting up the commission was because Mr Tsvangirai and other members of the party’s standing committee were engaged elsewhere.
“There is a prima facie evidence showing that other political parties were involved. Some senior officials from other political parties were stationed in Bulawayo to direct violence at our congress,” Mr Mwonzora said.
He refused to name the parties involved. “They know themselves,” Mr Mwonzora said.
He said the MDC-T did not report them to the police “because the police would not arrest them”.
Remarks by Mr Mwonzora are despite an open acknowledgement to intra-party violence by Mr Tsvangirai at the Bulawayo congress last month.
He even threatened to expel those involved in violence at the end of congress but did not.
“Let me tell you now, it is your duty to shun, reject and discard those that promoted violence . . . This party has no place for violence. We took a decision as an executive to expel those who were involved in violent activities. We are going to take a resolution tomorrow to expel those involved in violence. They will not get away with it. We will institute an independent commission of inquiry,” said Mr Tsvangirai then.
Political analyst, Mr Gabriel Chaibva, a former MDC member, said Mr Tsvangirai was never keen on dealing with the violence in his party.
“Violence is a culture deeply engraved in the MDC-T and there is historical evidence to this. When Trudy Stevenson was butchered by MDC youths, Mr Tsvangirai promised to set up an independent commission of inquiry, which he did. Forty-five youths were fingered some of them were Mr Tsvangirai’s bodyguards and no action was taken against them,” he said.
Mr Chaibva said the recent pledge by Mr Tsvangirai to set up an independent commission of inquiry was just “a public relations exercise”.
“I do not see him doing anything at all,” he said.
Mr Alexander Kanengoni, another political observer, said Mr Tsvangirai was not genuine in his promise to set up a probe team.
“He was not genuine at all. He knows the outcome of the commission might reveal the truth about the violence in the MDC-T and many other things. The commission would expose the lie about themselves,” he said.