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(TALKZIMBABWE) Tsvangirai admits MDC-T infighting, downplays clash with Biti

Tsvangirai admits MDC-T infighting, downplays clash with Biti
By: Ranganai Chidemo
Posted: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 10:17 am

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has admitted that his party is facing a lot of infighting, but downplayed a rift between him and the secretary general of that party Tendai Biti. He likened the tension in the MDC-T party to that which led to a split in 2005.

Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Tsvangirai claimed that relations between him and Biti were normal. This followed reports of a rift after intra-party violence last week saw MDC-T director-general Toendepi Shonhe being assaulted by youths loyal to Tsvangirai.

It was alleged that Mr Shonhe was undermining Tsvangirai and mismanaging party affairs.

A probe has since been instituted into the violence, but an interim report on the matter insinuates tension between Biti and Tsvangirai's offices.

Yesterday, Tsvangirai said: "Recently, there have been sustained attempts to divide the person of the secretary-general and that of myself.

"These attempts are not new, they happened in the past and in fact led to the split in the party in 2005.

"The SG and I have been comrades for many, many years and have stood together throughout this time and we will not allow enemies of real change to succeed in derailing the people's cause.

"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 defamatory documents being manufactured and distributed to the Press."

He said such factionalism was not new in MDC-T, but expressed shock at the violent attack on Shonhe and security director Chris Dhlamini.

Said Tsvangirai: "As the president of the party, I have received a preliminary report from the commission of enquiry I established to investigate thoroughly the cause of the disturbances and those behind such disturbances.

"I am shocked by the energy and the magnitude of the efforts to undermine our agenda."

The MDC-T has in the past dismissed reports of violence in that party blaming Zanu-PF for infighting in that party.

Labels: MDC FACTIONS, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, TENDAI BITI

posted by MrK @ 3:27 PM