(HERALD) MDC official vanishes in UK

MDC official vanishes in UK
Tuesday, 19 June 2012 12:00
Sydney Kawadza Assistant News Editor

AN official in the Professor Welshman Ncube-led MDC failed to return home after representing the party in the United Kingdom. Women’s Assembly secretary Ms Ellen Gonyora was reportedly seconded to represent the party at a meeting convened by one of Britain’s ruling coalition parties.

She however, did not turn up for her scheduled flight back home. The party’s deputy national spokesperson Mr Kurauone Chihwayi yesterday confirmed that Ms Gonyora had attended the meeting in Britain. He, however, dismissed reports that Ms Gonyora had absconded, saying she had extended her stay in Britain.

However, a source in the party said Ms Gonyora was expected to fly back the day after the conference ended and has been off the party radar.
“She was expected to fly back to Zimbabwe at the end of May, but she has not yet come back.”
Organisers who intended to transport Ms Gonyora to the airport for her flight could reportedly not find her as she had checked out.

The source said Ms Gonyora’s trip had also courted controversy leading to serious divisions in the women’s assembly.
“A lot of issues were raised, especially against the secretary general (Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga) and now that Gonyora has disappeared it will fuel the strife.”

While Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga was not readily available to comment as she is attending a Copac meeting in Nyanga, Mr Chihwayi said Ms Gonyora was expected back soon.

“Yes, I can confirm that our secretary-general in the women’s assembly travelled to the UK for a meeting organised by our social democrats partners.
“We are a social democratic party and we work with other like-minded institutions.
“She however, extended her stay in the UK to engage our external structures in that country,” Mr Chihwayi said.

He said Ms Gonyora’s extended stay in the UK was above board.
“She has relatives there and she has extended her stay to continue with some party work in that country.

“She actually has a six-month visa and she is using that to do party work.”
Mr Chihwayi said Ms Gonyora was constantly communicating with the MDC offices in Harare.

“The party is aware of her activities in the UK and there is nothing criminal or evil about her stay there.

“She was expected back home at the end of May, but we are expecting her back home as soon as she completes her mandate in the UK,” he said.

Some Zimbabweans sought asylum in Britain claiming political persecution.
It, however, turned out that they were economic refugees taking advantage of strained relations between Zimbabwe and EU-member countries, especially Britain.