MDC factions fight over name and funds

Violet Gonda and Tererai Karimakwenda

20 February 2006

Both factions of the MDC had much to do this past weekend as each is organising their own separate national congress. Both discussed the crucial issue of who owns the MDC name, logo and symbols. Over the weekend, there were also headlines that former student leader Arthur Mutambara, who led disruptive riots in the late 80s and has lived outside Zimbabwe since, had returned to head the pro-senate group. There were reports that the pro-senate group had been given Z$ 8 billion by the state, money meant for the opposition party with majority representation in parliament. The Tsvangirai faction disputes this as well, claiming that these funds still have to be distributed to the legitimate MDC.

MDC Secretary General for the pro-senate camp professor Welshman Ncube confirmed that the former militant student leader Arthur Mutambara is one of the candidates expected to be nominated for the post of president. The MDC pro-senate camp is holding its national congress this weekend and other nominees expected to present themselves for the election on Sunday are MPs Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga and Gift Chimanikire. Ncube said the candidates will be officially announced when the National Council meets this Friday. The Management Committee comprising himself, the group’s acting President Gibson Sibanda, Deputy Secretary General Gift Chimanikire and Treasurer General Fletcher Dulini Ncube met Monday to review the preparations for its congress.

Meanwhile the MDC National Council led by Morgan Tsvangirai also met this weekend to prepare the agenda for their coming congress.

Executive member Eddie Cross told us all provincial leaders who had joined the pro-senate breakaway group were replaced. Cross said the Council also instructed the leadership to seek an amicable separation from the breakaway group, and asked them to stop using the MDC name, logo, and other symbols. As for Mutambara, Cross said the scientist is clever and astute, and will hopefully make the right decision regarding the nomination for president of the pro-senate side. Cross said he hopes Mutambara realizes he would just be leading a small breakaway faction with no real grass roots support. Cross said he believes Mutambara will realize the pro-senate group is a cul-de-sac with no way forward, and that all week this group had been desperately searching for an acceptable leader.

In a statement released late on Monday, the favoured Mutambara himself explained his entry into Zimbabwean politics. He said as the MDC goes towards two separate congresses, the infusion of new leadership untainted by current disagreements is imperative to facilitate a reunification process. Mutambara said he will work with anybody who is prepared to reunify all democratic forces fighting for change in the country.

In regards to the dispute over the party assets, Professor Ncube said the authority of the MDC in between congresses is vested in the National Council. “We are the National Council of the MDC. We have the majority of the members of the National Council. We have had the majority since 0ctober 12th. We believe therefore that we are entitled to legitimately claim the name of the party, the symbols of the party, the assets of the party and more importantly we have abided by the constitution.”

But on the other hand, Eddie Cross said there is no doubt or argument as to who is the real MDC. Cross said the Tsvangirai camp had won in court the right to the name and symbols. He also said the Ncube camp had underestimated the support that Tsvangirai has on the ground.

The Sunday Mail also reported that the pro-senate camp had received Z$8 billion from the State which is meant for opposition political parties who have a majority in parliament. Ncube said they are entitled to the funds under the Political Finances' Act since his group had the majority in National Council, parliament and senate. But Eddie Cross disputed this, claiming the Sunday Mail report about the funds was misleading. He said the issue was yet to be settled.