MDC National Council suspends pro-senate officials

1 December 2005

By Violet Gonda

It has now become a game of 'who is firing who' between the warring factions in the troubled MDC. Paul Temba Nyathi has been fired as party spokesman while Vice President Gibson Sibanda has also been relieved of his duties as chairman of the Disciplinary Committee. The changes were made at a meeting of the National Council which was convened by party President Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare on Thursday.

However the pro-senate camp said they were not aware of the National Council meeting. They say Tsvangirai had sent a circular to provinces stating the Council would meet on the 3rd of December. They also allege the number of National Council members that met did not make a quorum.

Nelson Chamisa, the national youth chairman and MP for Kuwadzana denies these claims saying leaders from 12 provinces except Matabeleland South attended. He said 46 out of 66 members were present and therefore did have a quorum.

A resolution was made at the Council meeting, dissociating the rest of the party from Sibanda and the other “rebel” leaders. Chamisa was appointed the acting Secretary for Information and Publicity replacing Nyathi. Dr Mudzingwa replaces Sibanda as chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

At the same time the pro-senate camp is in the process of filing an affidavit in the courts against their president, who they suspended this past weekend. This group say Tsvangirai violated the party’s constitution by misrepresenting a decision made by the National Council to participate in the controversial senate elections. They have expressed reservations about Tsvangirai’s style of leadership. Some felt he has displayed dictatorial tendencies in the past and fear if unchecked he could be just like Robert Mugabe.

Nonetheless, a resolution was made at this council meeting accusing the Ncube lead faction of effectively paralyzing party business. It is alleged that ever since the meeting of the 12th of October 2005, the Deputy President, Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, and the Treasurer General have not availed themselves for any party meetings including the Management Committee, the Executive and the Council.

The move has been viewed as effectively ‘firing’ the defiant 4 pro-senate leaders. The members that met with Tsvangirai resolved that the Chairman of the party, Isaac Matongo shall temporarily perform the functions of the above office bearers. They contendthat no individual shall hold the party to ransom.

The Council resolved to exercise its freedom of association by not associating with the Deputy President (Sibanda), Secretary General (Ncube), Deputy Secretary General (Gift Chimanikire), the Treasurer General (Fletcher Dulini Ncube), the Secretary for Information and Publicity (Nyathi) and the Secretary for Policy and Research (Trudy Stevenson), among others.

Chamisa said the National Chairman will perform the functions of these absentee officers as most of them had confined themselves in Bulawayo.

He interpreted it as, “People have not been suspended or fired but the National Council has given them a vote of no confidence.”

See text of council resolutions click here