Tsvangirai breaks silence on MDC violence
By Raymond Maingire
May 3, 2010
HARARE – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has finally broken his silence over reports of a raging power dispute between two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions allegedly led by him and party secretary general Tendai Biti.
Addressing a media briefing Monday afternoon, the MDC leader said the reports were far-fetched, describing Biti as a “long time comrade”. Biti, the Minister of Finance, is widely regarded as the second in charge of the MDC despite being subordinate to party Deputy President Thokozani Khuphe.
Tsvangirai categorically denied he was at loggerheads with Biti, who attended the briefing.
”The SG (secretary general) and I have been comrades in this struggle for many many years and have stood together throughout this time and we will not allow the enemies of real change to succeed in derailing the people’s cause,” said Tsvangirai.
Violence broke out at the MDC headquarters leading to the assault of party director-general Toendepi Shonhe and security director Chris Dhlamini.
Media reports linked the hostilities to the two factions jostling for control of the party ahead of an MDC congress next year.
The MDC has since played down the incidence, describing it as a mere administrative issue, which has since been overcome through suspensions of the culprits.
Tsvangirai said he has since received a preliminary report from the commission of enquiry which was established to probe the causes of the violence.
The MDC has further accused bitter rival Zanu-PF of sly attempts to fan division within its ranks in a bid to weaken it ahead of the elections.
Tsvangirai was adamant no covert attempt to divide his party would derail its mission to form a new independent MDC government.
“The process of real change is irreversible and the wishes of Zimbabweans undeniable,” he said.
“The attempt to divide us has been expressed through violence and disturbances at Harvest House, dubious teams sent to provinces preaching gospels of division and baseless and defamatory being manufactured and distributed to the press.”
“I am shocked by the energy and the magnitude of the efforts to undermine our agenda.”
Meanwhile, Tsvangirai was set to leave Harare Monday destined for the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, to attend a World Economic Forum meeting.
Tsvangirai, who was being accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara and Biti, among top government officials, was also expected to hold bilateral talks with African leaders in his ongoing attempts to find a lasting solution to endless power squabbles with President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF.
His spokesman, James Maridadi told The Daily News Monday the MDC leader was set to enter into a meeting with Tanzanian leader and former African Union chair, Jakaya Kikwete, on Tuesday.
The MDC leader, whose party continues to play second fiddle to Zanu-PF in government, said the parties were still far from reaching an agreement in their protracted talks to resolve outstanding issues to the Global Political Agreement.
“As you know our negotiators concluded their talks on April 3rd and gave our final report to the principals and President Zuma,” he said.
“Agreement on some issues has been achieved but on the fundamental issues provincial governors, Attorney General, Roy Bennett, Reserve Bank Governor, security sector reform and ministerial portfolios the parties failed to converge.”
Responding to questions by journalists on prospects of an election in 2011, Tsvangirai said a poll was still possible.
This contradicts claims by the leader of the smaller faction of MDC, Mutambara, who has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of an election next year was non-existent.
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