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Tichaona Zindoga Harare Bureau
THE MDC Renewal Team says it will bring opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai before a disciplinary tribunal next month following his suspension from the party.
The renewal team, fronted by secretary general, Tendai Biti, on April 26 suspended Tsvangirai, his deputy Thokozani Khupe, Morgan Komichi (deputy chairperson), Douglas Mwonzora (secretary for information), Nelson Chamisa (organising secretary) and Abednico Bhebhe (deputy organising secretary) on various charges including promoting violence and factionalism.
Tsvangirai in turn expelled the renewal lobbyists in the unraveling drama that has also spilled to into Parliament where the Speaker, Cde Jacob Mudenda, recently ruled that the factions should take their matters to the courts.
Jacob Mafume, the spokesperson of the renewal team, said a panel of three judges had been appointed to discipline Tsvangirai and others in line with Article 12 of the MDC constitution.
Mafume said suspended Tsvangirai was made aware of charges against him.
“The hearing will be done in the next four weeks and three judges, who are reputable and experienced lawyers, have been appointed to handle the issue.”
Mafume declined to name the three panellists for professional reasons.
He said the charges included promoting violence, promoting factionalism and bringing the party into disrepute.
The former legal advisor to Tsvangirai hinted on chucking him out from Harvest House, MDC headquarters, which the latter has regarded as his fort throughout the two splits since 2005.
He dismissed suggestions that the renewal team was looking for an alternative accommodation in Harare.
“Once their cases are finalised, we will move substantively to the administrative issues but if one is squatting or illegally staying on land and nothing is being done, it doesn’t mean the land is yours. However, we will let the due process of law take course,” he said.
MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, yesterday scoffed at the impending disciplinary action.
“First of all, Tendai Biti, Jacob Mafume and others have formed their own party which they are failing to find a name for. Being people who have formed their own party, they have authority over members of their party not members who don’t belong to that party,” he said.
“I don’t, neither do president (Morgan) Tsvangirai and other leaders, belong to that party and we will therefore not appear before a kangaroo tribunal,” he said.
Asked if Tsvangirai did not risk default judgment of the forthcoming tribunal, Mwonzora said: “We won’t care: it’s as meaningless as the meeting at Mandel (Training Centre).”
He said his faction would seek to recall MPs aligned to Biti “soon”, arguing that the recent pronouncement by Speaker of Parliament Cde Jacob Mudenda had not prescribed such a move.
Online Reporter