Report by Elias Mambo and Nicholas Gochai
As the battle for control of Harvest House – the MDC Alliance’s citadel of power – continues the trustees of the property are reportedly approaching the courts seeking an eviction order to eject the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T that seized the headquarters on Thursday evening.
Insiders told the Zim Morning Post that the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance signed a 20-year lease with the trustees.
“MDC Alliance signed a new lease in December 2019 and it runs for 20 years,” an impeccable source told Zim Morning Post.
“MDC-T had the lease which elapsed in December 2019 and then the MDC alliance took over.“
“As it stands the MDC-T are breaking the law by invading private spaces,” the source added.
In an interview with this publication, lawyer Chris Mhike could neither confirm nor deny that the dispute will be taken to court.
“We are still debating and very soon we will have a clearer perspective on the matter,” Mhike said.
Mhike said it is not yet clear whether it will be him or some other legal practitioner who will handle the case.
Harare Central Business District has since Friday morning been a hive of political activity, with Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (MRT) House (formerly Harvest House) being a centre of ugly scenes among security forces and the two rival MDC parties.
On Thursday night some MDC-T youths went in to occupy MRT House while youths belonging to the MDC Alliance stood akimbo, with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and other security organs in watch to ensure that no ugly scenes would erupt.
Suspicion is abound that there was prior arrangement between the MDC-T and ZRP to allow for the “peaceful” takeover of the opposition stronghold.
Zim Morning Post spoke to MDC-T national chairperson Morgen Komichi who confirmed that the khupe-led MDC-T was now working from MRT House.
“Yes, we have formally occupied MRT House,” he said.
By late Friday afternoon, however, MRT House was teeming with security forces, clearly on instructions to stop MDC Alliance officials from accessing the headquarters.
Several top MDC Alliance leaders, among them party vice president Tendai Biti and deputy secretary general David Chimhini, visited MRT House with intention to get down to work as usual.
The MDC Alliance leadership was immediately arrested and whisked away by some police details to Harare Central Police Station. Zim Morning Post
