More leave as several members of MDC UK executive break ties with Mutambara faction

By Violet Gonda
12 April 2006

The MDC faction led by Professors Arthur Mutambara and Welshman Ncube took another heavy blow on Wednesday when several executive and youth members of their UK splinter group severed ties with the group.

The outgoing Organising Secretary Givemore Chindawi told us all the Shonas in the executive and youth group had left the faction with immediate effect, citing tribalism and unfair treatment.

This is the second setback the pro-senate faction of the MDC has suffered this week alone. On Monday their parliamentary chief whip and director of elections Blessing Chebundo tendered his resignation from the Mutambara led camp saying it was in respect of the wishes of the people of Kwekwe.

Reacting to the resignations the spokesperson of the Mutambara faction Paul Temba Nyathi said it is always distressing when colleagues decide to break ranks but people are free to take decisions they believe suit them. But he said; “With regards to the UK branch, my feeling is that it is absolutely unfortunate that there has never been much cohesion in the group. All we have had to deal with were internal fights. We hope that those that have left will create stability for those that have remained.”

A letter of resignation sent to the group’s Secretary General Welshman Ncube and copied to the leader Arthur Mutambara read: “ Kindly be advised that the following people have with immediate effect ceased to be members of the MDC led by Professor Mutambara. Silence Chihuri (Chairman), Givemore Chindawi (Organising Secretary), Frank Mamvura (Information Secretary), Ignacio Mushoperi (Youth Organising Secretary) and Nyasha Munjoma.”  It’s reported that another youth leader Tichaona Chawasarira also resigned from the group.

The letter, which was signed by Silence Chihuru, also said; “We have come to the conclusion that our aspirations and contributions to the Zimbabwean political process will not be realised by our affiliation to that grouping. We will no longer act, speak, or engage in any activity on the supposed behalf of that group.”

The group alleges that Professor Welshman Ncube was one of those who instigated the tribalism. Nyathi said unfortunately the issue of ethnicity has not been dealt with properly or maturely since independence. He said the issue of tribalism is the kind of “cheap shot” that a lot of people would like to make. He said; “It’s very easy to accuse somebody of tribalism but it’s impossible to prove the allegations as the damage would have been done.”

Analysts say it is senseless how time is being wasted by the infighting while the country is burning. Several months ago the MDC UK chapter was rocked by serious infighting, which resulted in a damaging game that helped split the party.

When asked about this the outgoing UK organising secretary said; “We didn’t even take more than two months to realise the mistake which was there and also to the Zimbabwean people. We are saying we are regretting what we did.”

Chindawi said although the group has not yet gone back to the Tsvangirai faction, it will support anyone who is against Robert Mugabe.