(HERALD) Heads roll at MDC-T

Heads roll at MDC-T
By Tendai Mugabe and Mabasa Sasa

MDC-T has expelled five youths and reportedly dissolved its security department headed by Kisimusi Emmannuel Chris Dhlamini following intra-party violence. The five youths allegedly assaulted MDC-T director-general Mr Toendepi Shonhe. They accused Mr Shonhe of undermining the party leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.

Addressing the media at MDC-T’s Harvest House headquarters yesterday, Mr Tsvangirai said: "Following extensive discussions, the national executive of the party resolved that the following youths who were at the epicentre of the violence are forthwith expelled from the party: Rhino Mashaya, Shakespear Mukoyi, Stephen Jahwi, Todini Todini and Francis Machimbidzofa.

"The youths shall not participate in any activities of the party and no member of the party shall, within the context of party activities, associate or entertain the above."

Mr Tsvangirai sidestepped a question on whether the violence stemmed from a power struggle between him and secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti.

He responded: "We intend to go to the root cause of the issue if there is any that is beyond what was revealed by the commission of inquiry."

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Nelson Chamisa could neither confirm nor deny Mr Dhlamini’s suspension saying: "Issues of party administration are being handled by the party’s leadership.

"We have communicated the party’s resolutions pertaining to the disturbances at Harvest House and we do not know where you are getting all this."

Mr Dhlamini’s reported suspension and the expulsion of the youths followed leadership meetings at Harvest House on Saturday and yesterday.

Sources said MDC-T was riddled with serious power struggles and the youths’ expulsion was the tip of an iceberg.

"These youths are sacrificial lambs to cover deepening rifts in the party. Mr Tsvangirai wants the situation to appear as if things are flowing normally.

"He wants to assert himself as the paramount leader of the party. The head of security has been suspended, but they don’t want to reveal this because the course of action has been divisive."

Another source added: "Mr Dhalimini is a victim who has been punished.

"The expelled youths also wanted to beat him up when they attacked the director-general and now both victim and perpetrator have been punished. There are moves to expel Mr Dlamini from the party and a lot of jostling and power-broking is taking place behind the scenes."

A confidential preliminary report on the attack on Mr Shonhe alleges that Mr Dhlamini was co-ordinating violence against other party members.

"There has developed a very dangerous alliance between Mr Dhlamini and the director-general . . .

"Last week, just after the DG was forced to leave office by the youths, Mr Dhlamini allowed entrance to three unknown men apparently using the back door of Harvest House.

"It was later observed that the three men had pictures of the youths based outside Harvest House.

"They wanted to use the same pictures for easy identification. Fortunately, the scheme was thwarted by alert youths who then managed to capture the three unknown men and confiscate the pictures.

"However, what is even more worrying about the incident is that the three men confessed after pressure from the youths that they were send (sic) by Mr Dhlamini and Mr Dhlamini is yet to dismiss the claims by the three men.

"Mr Inock Mukudu was the first victim of the plan by the DG and Mr Dhlamini.

"Mr Mukudu was manhandled and taken to an unknown place by unknown men only to be found at Harare Central Prison the following day.

"It is now in the public domain that the same thugs were then taken (to hospital) by the director-general himself after the scuffle with the youths.

"This sets a very dangerous precedent," part of the report read.

It is understood that the chaos is linked to a scheduled party congress in 2011 in which members will elect a new leadership.

According to the present MDC-T constitution, Mr Tsvangirai is ineligible to stand for re-election after having served two terms.

An official at Harvest House last week revealed: "The violence is all about the constitution and the congress.

"There is a group led by (a senior party official) that is saying the rules should not be changed just to allow Mr Tsvangirai to stay on in office because this would be akin to the power-grabbing we always blame Zanu-PF of engaging in.

"Another group aligned to Mr Tsvangirai says it is in the party’s interest to change the rules and allow him to remain at the helm. A lot of money has been poured into the factionalism and the recent violence at our headquarters is a manifestation of this."

The source said the same problems that led to the 2005 split were still haunting the party.

"Last time the secretary-general and head of security were targeted and Professor (Welshman Ncube) ended up disowning Mr Tsvangirai.

"The only difference here is that Mr (Tendai) Biti has not publicly hit back. He has met Mr Tsvangirai to reassure him of his loyalty but there are people around Mr Tsvangirai who whisper differently in his ear."

In 2005, Mr Tsvangirai reversed a disciplinary hearing decision to expel about 30 youths accused of fomenting intra-party violence.

This was after then secretary-general Prof Ncube was manhandled as was former head of security Mr Peter Guhu.