Movement for Democratic Change suspends former PM over "fascist tendencies", deepening divisions in opposition ranks.
Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Zimbabwe's main opposition
movement, has been suspended along with other senior party officials for
"fascist" tendencies and failing to oust President Robert Mugabe, a
faction of the opposition announced.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said on Saturday that it
suspended the former prime minister, his deputy Thokozani Khupe,
chairperson Lovemore Moyo and four other senior party officials,
deepening divisions in the opposition ranks.
The group led by Tendai Biti, secretary-general of the MDC, accused
Tsvangirai and his lieutenants of resisting a leadership change after
losing a third general election to Mugabe last July and of using
violence against internal challengers.
"The MDC as we know it has abandoned its original founding values and
principles," it said in a statement. "The party has been hijacked by a
dangerous fascist clique bent on destroying the same and totally working
against the working people of Zimbabwe."
The group also said Tsvangirai had violated the MDC's constitution by
expelling deputy treasurer general Elton Mangoma, after he suggested
Tsvangirai should step down as leader of the party following last year's
election defeat to veteran ruler, 90-year-old Robert Mugabe.
The party's treasurer Roy Bennett, who is exiled in South Africa, and
other officials have also made similar calls for Tsvangirai to resign
after losing to Mugabe in the July 31 general elections, igniting
tensions within the group.
Tsvangirai's faction, however, immediately dismissed the move as unconstitutional and meaningless.
"The MDC leadership cannot be changed by a bunch of desperate
power-hungry officials, a minority that cannot win a leadership contest
at party congress," national party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told
reporters, calling the suspension a legal nullity.
"That meeting is a culmination of a sustained covert programme
involving state security, Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and a few malcontents
to destabilise the MDC," he said.
The MDC, formed in 1999 by an alliance of trade unions and civic
groups, has been seen as the most credible challenger to Mugabe's grip
on power. The 62-year-old Tsvangirai has led the MDC since its
formation.
But it has been riven by tensions since Tsvangirai was beaten at the polls last year.
Source:Aljazeela
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