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Hebert Zharare and Albert Chavhunduka
MDC 99 leader Mr Job Sikhala and chairman of another splinter MDC faction, Mr Jobert Mudzumwe, yesterday abandoned their parties and rejoined MDC-T. MDC-T, led by Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, has been ravaged by factional fighting and violence. Mr Sikhala and Mr Mudzumwe were paraded to the media in Harare at MDC-T’s headquarters.
Secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti – who is reported to be opposed to Mr Tsvangirai’s leadership – was absent.
Mr Tsvangirai is desperately trying to shore up support as several MDC-T executives push for his ouster ahead of an elective congress in 2016.
His opponents say he has failed to lead the party to victory in successive national elections in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2013. Mr Tsvangirai as an individual has never held an elective public post, losing in the 2000 parliamentary elections and in Presidential polls in 2002, 2008 and 2013.
Disenchantment with his leadership has on several occasions led to violence.
In fact, Mr Sikhala left Mr Tsvangirai in 2005 in a split characterised by violence, and is ironically returning as violence once again threatens to rend the troubled party.
Mr Sikhala and Mr Mudzumwe could not say if their supporters would follow them to Mr Tsvangirai, with the former MDC 99 president simply saying “they will follow their leaders”.
Mr Tsvangirai welcomed the two saying: “These are colleagues with whom we have walked in the struggle but at some point had pursued other political options. I have had intense discussions with these two colleagues and many others and we have agreed that we all need to be in one tent as we fight for positive change in the lives of the people of Zimbabwe.
“Today we obliterate the premature obituaries of this great movement. We showcase the dexterity with which we have outmanoeuvred our political opponents who have underestimated our capacity to organise a common front of one big family of fighters for democratic change,” he said.
Mr Tsvangirai claimed he had introduced leadership renewal in the party even as he suspended Mr Elton Mangoma – the deputy treasurer-general – for asking him to step down.
Mr Sikhala formed MDC 99 after breaking away from Professor Arthur Mutambara’s MDC in 2010. That MDC formation had split from Mr Tsvangirai in 2005. Mr Sikhala had been sacked for indiscipline when he formed MDC 99.
Online Reporter