HARARE – There was drama outside the MDC-T headquarters in Harare on Monday as party leader Morgan Tsvangirai acted swiftly to rescue deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma from being assaulted by party youths.
The youths incensed that Mangoma was pushing for Tsvangirai to step down outside a party congress, laid siege on the Harvest House headquarters.
According to reports Tsvangirai came outside the offices and told the youths “We don’t want noise from you guys here. Stop that noise. I don’t want to hear that.”
According to a NewsDay report “the youths shouted back saying they wanted “to teach Mangoma a lesson” before taking a dig at his physical condition.”
Both the MDC-T Women and Youth Assemblies organized protests in support of Tsvangirai. MDC-T youth assembly spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo said;
“The youth assembly is 100% behind Tsvangirai who was elected by Congress. We dismiss all so-called calls for our leader to step down. We have a clear position on what we are fighting for and Tsvangirai has the answers.”
Theresa Makone the Women’s Assembly chair said:
“We reiterate our support for the MDC led by Tsvangirai. We are very clear and solidly behind our president and against all we see and read in the papers of those undermining our leader.”
MDC-T Vice President Thokozani Khupe also came out in support of Tsvangirai telling London based SW Radio Africa:
“While internal debate on leadership should be encouraged, it must be done within the internal party platforms. It is undesirable that these be discussed through the press. The party leadership will not allow the enemies of the party to divide it by sowing seeds of discontent and distrust among the leaders.”
Party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora on Monday reiterated that Mangoma would not be victimised for expressing his views but that he should expect criticism from some party supporters the same way he was also allowed to criticise the party president.
“The position of the party and president Tsvangirai is that it’s not an offence for anybody to express their opinion. However, the position of the national council is that officials and members of the party must not discuss leadership issues in the press but use our political platforms.
“Further, in-as-much-as Honourable Mangoma’s letter is in the public domain, criticisms and reactions from party officials and members can also be made in the public domain. So there is nothing wrong with people who are criticising him,” said Mwonzora.
