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(ZIMPAPERS) Officials jostle for positions following Tsvangirai's declaration

Officials jostle for positions following Tsvangirai's declaration
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 20:21 Top Stories

A PRESS conference called by Mr Gorden Moyo, to do damage control on factionalism that is tearing MDC-T apart in Matabeleland was much ado about nothing as the former civic society activist failed to articulate himself well.

Mr Moyo, the Minister of State Enterprises and Parastatals, called a Press conference at his house Number 14, 19th Avenue in Famona in an attempt to clear the smoke surrounding his involvement in the alleged plot to unseat, MDC-T deputy president, Ms Thokozani Khupe.

Our sister paper, Sunday News revealed at the weekend that some senior MDC-T national executive members among them, Mr Moyo, Speaker of House of Assembly, Mr Lovemore Moyo, Mr Norman Mabhena, who is in the national council and Mrs Theresa Makone, the women’s wing chairperson, were positioning themselves for Ms Khupe’s post at the next congress scheduled for 10 May. Yesterday Mr Moyo was at pains to try and mend his party’s battered image.

When journalists fired questions about his political ambitions and appraisal of his deputy president’s capabilities, Mr Moyo tried to be slippery and continuously said he was not interested in the post.

“I want to set the record straight, I am not stampeding, I am not part of the pack if ever it is there, that is jostling for the deputy presidency in my party,” said Mr Moyo.

“I am only available to land a post when deployed by the party and the people even at the lowest post. Let everyone learn from me that I am not and I am not in that contest and there is no division or animosity in my party.”

When pinned down by journalists on alleged tensions and leadership crisis in his party and what he would do should people choose him as vice-president, Mr Moyo referred questions to the party spokesperson, Mr Nelson Chamisa.

The battle for the second top post is said to have fomented after the party leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai declared during a national council meeting “anyone who is my vice will take over my post when I leave power.”

According to party insiders, Ms Khupe’s main fault has allegedly been her “lack of strength and capacity” to face President Mugabe, Vice-Presidents Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo as well as Professor Welshman Ncube of MDC.

Serious campaigning is said to be taking place among the structures, a development that has given birth to divisions in Matabeleland as party supporters are torn apart between Mr Gorden Moyo and Mr Lovemore Moyo.-Chronicle

Labels: GORDEN MOYO, LOVEMORE MOYO, MDC, MDC FACTIONS

posted by MrK @ 12:58 AM