Tsvangirai booed

The MDC-T leader also ordered the party’s Makoni Central candidate Mr Patrick Sagandira to withdraw in favour of Dr Simba Makoni.
Manicaland provincial spokesperson Mr Pishayi Muchauraya could neither deny nor confirm the incident.

“I wouldn’t say yes it happened or no it didn’t happen, that’s all I can say, but what we know as a province with regards to Makoni Central is that our candidate as MDC-T is Patrick Sagandira and his opponents are Simba Makoni and Patrick Chinamasa of Zanu-PF and in Chikanga-Dangamvura the party is sponsoring two candidates Giles Mutsekwa and Arnold Tsunga,” he said.

“You cannot withdraw candidates who were elected through a credible internal electoral process supervised by the national leadership in order to impose Mutsekwa and Simba Makoni who is a candidate of MKD and president of that party.”

The Manicaland provincial executive led by Buhera North aspiring candidate Mr Julius Magarangoma reportedly enjoys the backing of MDC-T secretary general and Finance Minister Mr Tendai Biti, Energy Minister Mr Elton Mangoma and Mr Eddie Cross. Sources say the executive was taking instructions from Mr Biti who told them to ignore Mr Tsvangirai’s instructions.

Sources said Mr Tsvangirai was scheduled to meet Mr Mutsekwa and Mr Tsunga before the party’s rally at Sakubva Stadium last week, but Tsunga did not pitch up and reportedly ignored Mr Tsvangirai’s calls.

After the Sakubva rally, Mr Tsvangirai summoned the Chikanga-Dangamvura district executive and the provincial leadership in the province and they failed to break the impasse.