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As if to outdo their MDC-T counterparts, who have also been riddled by escalating factionalism, mass defections and a whirlwind of suspensions of officials nationwide, MDC recently shocked all and sundry when it fired five of its House of Assembly representatives and Senators and 49 councillors on allegations of defying party directives and working with MDC-T.
The party has been left with a handful of legislators following the previous firing of three other legislators in 2010 — Messers Abednico Bhebhe (Nkayi South), Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane East) and Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East).
The faction’s paucity of representation in Parliament presents fundamental questions because in allocating ministerial posts to the three parties to the Global Political Agreement, the precursor to the formation of the inclusive Government, the parties were given a certain number of ministerial posts based on their strength in Parliament.
MDC had 10 MPs in the Lower House, and six Senators, so the formula considered this legislative presence to work out the number of representatives the faction would have in Cabinet.
A 31-member cabinet comprising 15 ministers from Zanu-PF, 13 from MDC-T and three from MDC was agreed on. The parties also agreed that there shall be 15 deputy ministers, eight from Zanu-PF, six from MDC-T and one from MDC.
Prof Ncube’s recent “expulsions” leave the party with four representatives in the House of Assembly after firing six members and four in the Senate.
With these ugly developments one wonders whether the MDC still has the legitimacy to claim to represent the masses when virtually 70 percent of its leadership has been fired. Do they still have the moral ground to hold on to those three ministerial and one deputy ministerial posts they have?
Furthermore, with the few representatives left for Prof Ncube, is he still going to be recognised as the legitimate leader? Many analysts liken Prof Ncube’s ignominious position to that of a general without soldiers, or a general who lacks power to command his army given the open defiance and insolence some legislators have shown him.
Bulawayo-based lawyer, Mr Thabisa Sibanda, said there is still a problem on ascertaining the legitimacy of MDC. He added that nobody knows who the real MDC leader is between Prof Ncube and Prof Mutambara but opined that the former’s position in Government is safe as he was appointed to the post of minister, and not elected.
He also said all parliamentarians were elected when the faction was led by Prof Mutambara. They are still claiming to be under his leadership hence it will be difficult for Prof Ncube to purport to expel them from Parliament.
“I cannot put an off-the-cuff answer at this juncture because we do not know who the real MDC leader is because the case is still in the courts,” said Mr Sibanda.
“Whether Prof Ncube has fired MPs or not he will still remain as the Minister of Industry and Commerce because he got the post through appointment not through election.”
At the same time, Mr Sibanda said what Prof Ncube is doing is as good as digging his own grave.
He said: “By chasing away people Prof Ncube is destroying his structures at ground level. People look upon their leader through their elected members who include councillors, parliamentarians and senators. By chasing away people like this, who will mobilise votes for him?”
Professor Mutambara, who claims to be the real MDC leader, recently questioned the legitimacy of Prof Ncube since he now remains with few legislators.
“Even in this scenario, how do you fire more than 70 percent of your elected representatives, and remain legitimate as a party leader and as Government Minister? This has never happened in the history of constitutional democracies,” said Prof Mutambara.
Political analyst, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa said Prof Ncube was aware that technically, Prof Mutambara retained the leadership of MDC and retains his position as a principal in the inclusive Government pending a ruling by the Supreme Court on the leadership contest between the two professors.
“To be honest from a legal perspective there is no challenging Prof Mutambara as the principal and his argument that those MPs cannot be fired as he is the leader of the MDC holds water especially considering that there is the pending Supreme Court case. As we speak Prof Mutambara remains the leader of the party,” said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.
However, Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri, a media studies lecturer at Midlands State University argued that Prof Ncube is the legitimate leader in terms of the MDC constitution.
“He is still the legitimate leader. This is the reason why even Sadc recognise him when discussing political issues affecting the country,” said Dr Mhiripiri.
He said finality would come through elections next year when it will be clear on who has the support from the masses.
Asked on whether this could be the end of MDC, he said anything might happen during elections.
“I cannot predict because there are people who believe in the party’s principles. They can win in other areas yet some of us might be underestimating them,” said Dr Mhiripiri.
MDC secretary- general, Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga recently said the alignment of the ousted officials to the Prof Mutambara faction justified their “expulsion.”
“We are very happy about what is being said because it proves our point. The fired officials have exposed their true colours. People now know that what we have been saying that these have been working with our opponents is true. We are going to the battle and it is better to remain with few loyal cadres than to bank on fake ones. We are geared for the elections and the votes will prove the confidence we have. If they are strong we will meet them at the polls”.
Mr Godwine Mureriwa, a political commentator, said people should now judge and see the political party that has people at heart. He said infighting and power struggles are the order of the day in the whole family of MDC.
Mr Mureriwa said MDC party’s leadership is power-hungry and is also not people oriented.
“It is clear to people now that Zanu-PF is the party with people at heart. These other political parties have revealed that they do not have policies that will keep the nation going forward like Zanu-PF.
Their leadership is after wealth, they are just greedy. Zanu-PF has clear policies that include land reform, economic empowerment and it is driven by unity of purpose. People want leaders who are doing something that will benefit them rather that leaders who are elected to fatten their bellies,” said Mr Mureriwa.
He said a multitude of supporters from MDC formations and their leaders are crossing the floor to join Zanu-PF because the British-backed party has failed to deliver.
In September MDC-T lost more than 700 supporters in Ndlovu area in Victoria Falls who decided to join Zanu-PF citing displeasure within the party. Most of the MDC-run councils have been flawed by corruption. MDC-T councillor for Ward 12 in Hwange, Mr Salani Nkomazana resigned from the crisis-ridden party this week. In Matabeleland South, former MDC-T chairman for Bulilima district dumped the formation and joined Zanu-PF. In Midlands, Gweru mayor, Councillor Tedious Chimombe and a number of councillors have done the same, protesting against party leader, Mr Tsvangirai’s leadership style.
Mr Mureriwa said MDC-T, which is the “big brother” of all the MDC formations, has been dogged by infighting while corruption is rampant among its councillors.
He said the findings of a recent Freedom House study are clear that MDC-T and its “younger brothers” are losing support.
The survey says: “For example in Harare, MDC-T support declined from 50 percent in 2010 to 17 percent, while Zanu-PF rose from eight percent to 22 percent. In Bulawayo, Zanu-PF increased its support from four percent to 15 percent, while that of the MDC-T declined from 51 percent to 29 percent”.
Online Reporter