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a national executive committee meeting and skipped the border into Botswana in 2008, leaving the others in session and wondering where he had gone.
The expose, contained in his recently published book, “Morgan Tsvangirai: At the deep end”, has led political analysts to question his relationship with the leadership in his party and his suitability for national leadership.
Mr Tsvangirai admits leaving the country without informing his lieutenants in the party.
“Things had taken a turn for the worse, much worse. Given the numerous reports of plots against my life, I decided to take action. I left the national executive meeting in session, politely proffering a lame excuse to wash my hands . . . As I sat in my study considering a variety of options and thinking about the security threat against my person, I figured out a plan to work hard on Africa . . .
“Soon after dusk, I sneaked out of Harare in the company of a family friend Pearson Mungofa, the MP for Highfield, and Dr Mudzingwa, our security chief, and headed for Bulawayo with the intention of getting into Botswana under the cover of darkness.”
Mr Tsvangirai ditched his party soon after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced that there was no absolute winner in the 2008 presidential election. He garnered 47,9 percent of the votes to President Mugabe’s 43,2 percent.
A presidential candidate had to gain 50 percent plus one vote to assume leadership of the country.
However, Mr Tsvangirai disappeared and resurfaced in Botswana where President Seretse Khama Ian Khama had openly supported his party. President Mugabe subsequently won the election run-off held on June 27, 2008.
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Mr Tsvangirai resurfaced to attend the Sadc-facilitated dialogue leading to the Global Political Agreement in September of the same year.
Political analysts yesterday said Mr Tsvangirai’s actions confirmed that he was not a leader who stood with the people in tough times.
An analyst Alexander Kanengoni said Mr Tsvangirai’s actions showed that he did not trust people in his party.
“The fact that he did not tell anyone his next move gives us the chance to speculate on how long the executive waited for him to finish washing his hands. As a leader, he should have told them what he was going to do. His actions show a high level of disrespect for his party leadership,” he said.
Ambassador Christopher Mutsva-ngwa said Mr Tsvangirai was not ready to lead. “He does not have the grasp to lead. It is not within himself to lead his party and the former colonial masters chose well because they wanted someone to take instructions without asking questions,” he said.
Mr Goodwine Mureriwa said Mr Tsvangirai’s actions were reminiscent of the decisions that led to the party’s split in 2005. “Tsvangirai’s leadership is best understood within the introspection of his own political party. He went against the same national executive to participate in the 2005 Senate elections and his decisions to leave the same executive shows that he does not trust anyone in it.”
He said Mr Tsvangirai failed to understand the dynamics of his party.
“His ignorance is beyond the understanding of Zimbabweans and that explains Professor Welshman Ncube’s decision to leave the party. Professor Ncube and even Professor Mutambara were not interested to be associated with his ignorance. He has no respect for his structures,” he said.
Mr Tsvangirai’s leadership has come under the microscope of late amid reports that even members of his national executive have questioned it.
Party national organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa and Harare provincial spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu are quoted in WikiLeaks questioning Mr Tsvangirai’s leadership qualities. The revelations have caused serious divisions in the party with reports of a near-fight between Mr Chamisa and party vice chairman Mr Morgan Femai during a meeting at Harvest House.
Online Reporter