TSVANGIRAI CONFRONTS MANGOMA OVER RESIGN NOW MEMO HARARE - Opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday came face-to-face with party deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma at a strategic retreat in the capital and allegedly accused his erstwhile comrade of betrayal. Impeccable sources in the MDC-T told The Zimbabwe Mail on Sunday that Tsvangirai tore into Mangoma at a party retreat held at Mandel Training Centre for writing a position paper asking the former trade unionist to step down and allow deputy president Thokozani Khupe to takeover until an elective extraordinary congress is held. Mangoma accused Tsvangirai of failing to exercise executive authority when he was Prime Minister in the inclusive government to achieve political and electoral reforms. He also accused the former premier of tarnishing the MDC-T brand through his love shenanigans and controversy surrounding Tsvangirai’s Highlands home. “He (Tsvangirai) was angry after reading the contents (of Mangoma’s position paper). He defended himself accusing (President Robert) Mugabe of usurping his executive powers in the inclusive government,” one of the sources said. Another insider said the issue of Tsvangirai’s home raised temperatures at the meeting. “On the issue of the Highlands house, Tsvangirai claimed he has an agreement with government and wanted to use his right of first refusal and was ready to pay the $4 million (the house cost). However, the question is where will he get the money and if he has the money, where did he get it?” Insiders claim Tsvangirai received $200 000 from the MDC-T coffers as part of his $300 000 once-off settlement to jilted former lover Locardia Karimatsenga Tembo in November 2012. “That money could have funded the campaign of a sizeable number of our legislative candidates,” said the source. Hawks in Tsvangirai’s party last week upped the ante against him when deputy Mangoma wrote the position paper. MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora confirmed Mangoma’s paper was discussed at the strategic meeting. “Early congress ideas were raised and based on varied reasoning, but with robust debate. Mangoma’s paper was rejected by unanimous decision. We also resolved that all communication of internal discussion be done through the spokesperson,” Mwonzora said in reference to the leaking of Mangoma’s position paper. “There will be no reprisals against Mangoma or any other party member who have made public their opinions because as always the president of the party has said the issue of succession or his continued stay in office is no sacred issue.” Mangoma on Sunday denied that his paper was rejected. “It was never put to a vote, neither was it rejected because the things that I say in that paper are fact. There were of course a few members in the standing committee who thought it would not be proper to hold an early congress, but that is a decision that will be made by the national council when it sits next month,” Mangoma told The Zimbabwe Mail. He also disputed that Tsvangirai accused him of betrayal. “I have always advised the party president in private and have kept our briefings as such. On this particular one, I decided to put it in writing so that it remains on record that this is how I advised the president at such a time. He was the one who decided to make copies to give to senior leaders who I suppose ultimately leaked it to the press. I am of the hope that he will still get time to reflect on my advice and make the right decisions.” Mwonzora said the party’s top brass had also discussed the feasibility of an early congress. “We discussed the feasibility of an extraordinary congress or early congress and agreed that the decision to hold or not to hold an early congress can only be varied by the national council,” Mwonzora said. Mangoma in his position paper, the full text of which was published by The Zimbabwe Mail on Saturday, said Tsvangirai needed to resign if the MDC-T was to realise its ultimate goal of securing state power.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 19:28:52 +0000
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