MDC delegation holds successful USA meetings despite bad weather

By Lance Guma
13 February 2006

Severe snow in some parts of the United States of America failed to stop rallies by a delegation of the Movement for Democratic Change led by party spokesman Nelson Chamisa. The group is on a whirlwind tour of the diaspora that has seen them address party supporters in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Chamisa, Makokoba MP Thokozani Khupe, National Chairman Isaac Matongo all addressed a gathering in Philadelphia at the weekend.

The Chairman of the MDC Philadelphia branch Chengetai Chitiwere told Newsreel the level of enthusiasm despite the freezing temperatures around the country was heart warming. He said the MDC structures in North America remained united even though the party was split in two back home. MDC North America is made up of branches in Atlanta, Dallas, Indianapolis, Michigan, Seattle and Washington DC. The grouping has the unique scenario of having Gibson Sibanda’s son Mbuso Sibanda amongst its ranks and despite a tense relationship Chitewere believes they are far from having an open split such as it happened in the UK.

Professor Stanford Mukasa of the Concerned Zimbabweans in North America said he was impressed by the positive message the delegation brought to the diaspora. Chamisa is said to have told the gathering Tsvangirai is not an angel and those who disagreed with his decisions should use the March congress to put their points across and not advocate a separate congress. Makokoba MP Thokozani Khupe highlighted the fact that even in Matabeleland the MDC leader enjoyed considerable support and that his detractors were in for a rude awakening in months to come.

The party split in two after Tsvangirai’s second in command Gibson Sibanda led a rebellion over whether to participate in the senate elections or not. The group are unhappy Tsvangirai over-ruled a narrow 33-31 vote in favour of participation and say the move shows Tsvangirai is a dictator in the making. Tsvangirai however argued the senate was a waste of resources in a country grappling to feed, medicate and house its people.