MDC-T Manicaland province boycott Tsvangirai rally in Rusape

By Tatenda Mabasa | Nehanda Mutare Bureau |

The feuding between MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and the Manicaland provincial executive escalated yesterday with the latter boycotting the premier’s rally at Vengere Stadium where he unveiled Mavambo leader Dr Simba Makoni as the “endorsed” Makoni Central candidate.

The move by Tsvangirai further widened the cracks between the national and the provincial leadership ahead of crucial elections scheduled for July 31. It has left the MDC-T Manicaland executive seething with anger.

Nehanda Radio understands that Dr Alex Magaisa, Luke Tamborinyoka and Cecil Zvidzai tried to coax some provincial members to meet Tsvangirai at a motel in Rusape prior to addressing the Vengere rally, but they refused.

Tsvangirai disputed accusations of imposing the MKD leader arguing that he was supporting the ex-finance minister on the basis of the Coalition for Change truce entered with Makoni and Reketayi Semwayo of Zanu Ndonga to dislodge Zanu PF’s President Robert Mugabe in next week’s poll.

Tsvangirai asked his supporters to vote for Makoni for MP of the area.

Fearless former soldier and provincial chairman Julius Magarangoma, who is opposed to the interference by Mr Tsvangirai in the province yesterday immediately, took his war to social media Facebook where he likened the MDC-T leader to a supersonic snake.

“Our Party is now being controlled by Supersonic Snake. It’s shameful!!!!,” he wrote in an indication that he was fiercely fighting from the corner of the targeted candidate.

Nehanda Radio also understands that last night some influential members of the MDC-T provincial executive burnt the midnight oil in Rusape strategizing how to prop up Sagandira’s campaign.

The provincial executive accused Tsvangirai and Makoni of losing focus by fighting party cadres instead of Zanu PF. Sagandira told Nehanda Radio that his resolve has since been strengthened and was rearing to take Makoni head-on.

“Tsvangirai does not cast a vote in Makoni Central. It is the people of Makoni Central, who endorsed my candidature, who matter most. I cannot withdraw for an MKD cadre that is impossible. I will not do that, over my dead body.

“Tsvangirai made the point abundantly clear during his address that it was impossible for me to withdraw at this juncture. As a way forward, we are revamping the MDC-T campaign in Makoni Central and take Makoni head-on,” said Sagandira.

A provincial official who spoke to Nehanda Radio after meeting Sagandira accused Tsvangirai of failing to uphold the party constitution through such unilateral declarations. The official queried the premier’s capacity in holding the country’s supreme law if he romps to victory on July 31.

He said national leaders and provincial members opposed to Mr Tsvangirai’s move boycotted yesterday’s Rusape rally. Tsvangirai was only accompanied by his wife Elizabeth, Douglas Mwonzora and Zvizwai.

“We cannot attend MKD meetings as if we do not have our own party. That was an MKD rally that was attended by Tsvangirai. Our party candidate is Sagandira. Is this the best reward for a cadre who rotted in jail for almost a month?

“We do know what Tsvangirai is up to when he mortgages those votes intended for Sagandira to Makoni since senatorial and proportional representation seats are allocated according to the number of votes garnered by each party.

Instead of Tsvangirai campaigning for more votes for MDC-T he is saying such must go to Mavambo, which means we will lose out on the allocation of such seats. He is vouching for a double blow for the party in Manicaland. He is greedy and just thinking of going to State House,” said the member.

MDC-T Manicaland spokesman Mr Pishai Muchauraya, who is on record supporting Sagandira and was among those who boycotted Tsvangirai’s rally, refused to comment saying his life was in danger.

“My life is in danger already, and I do not want to talk about it. All I can say is I had not been briefed about his rally, otherwise I would have attended. I am only hearing about it from you,” said Mr Muchauraya.