admin
postponement, yesterday bunked Cabinet to hit the campaign trail in Masvingo with his deputy Ms Thokozani Khupe in tow.
Conspicuous by their absence were his usual sidekicks secretary general Mr Tendai Biti and organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa who are finance minister and ICT minister in the inclusive Government and other members of the party’s standing committee.
Mr Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka last night tried to downplay his boss’ actions by launching veiled attacks on Zanu-PF and The Herald.
“In Cabinet the ministers will be discussing Government business and depending with the nature of the engagement, one can leave the meeting.
Why should it be news to the Herald just because Tsvangirai is not in Cabinet while it is not news when (President) Mugabe leaves Cabinet after 30 minutes and travel to Singapore.”
Sources at Harvest House said there was no love lost between the MDC-T’s top leadership manifest in lack of co-ordination regarding the direction of the party ahead of the harmonised elections that begin with special voting in 11 days time.
The sources said at a time Mr Tsvangirai was talking poll postponement, the office of the secretary general was busy signing nomination papers for candidates.
The sources attribute the prevalence of rebel candidates in MDC-T to the so-called project 2016, the year the party’s young Turks want to knock Mr Tsvangirai off the leadership position and their hand will be strengthened by yet another loss for the MDC-T leader.
The rebels, the source said, are supposed to divide votes in favour of Zanu-PF much the same way Mavambo Kusile Dawn leader divided the presidential vote in favour of Mr Tsvangirai in Election 2008.
The problems in Makoni Central where Grace Kwinjeh was made to pull defeat from the jaws of victory, the source said, was because she had associated with project 2016.
‘’Save asked how Grace had managed to mobilise when she was in Brussels, and it emerged that the guys behind project 2016 had done her leg work. This infuriated Save and Grace paid for it,’’ said the source.
For example in Chitungwiza provincial chairman Mr Alex Musundire approved double candidates to stand in one ward in Local Government elections with a number a number of disgruntled supporters opting to stand as independents, a development likely to seriously divide the party’s votes.
In some areas, the MDC – T has three candidates vying for the same ward amid reports that other candidates might have signed letters they submitted to the Nomination Court last Friday.
The letters are supposed to be signed by secretaries general of parties sponsoring those candidates.
Mr Musundire yesterday confirmed there were double candidates in Chitungwiza but denied he played a part in it.
Online Reporter