FISSURES have erupted in the main opposition MDC Alliance
after three legislators defied a party directive to disengage from all
parliamentary business and showed up for duty, triggering allegations of an
imminent coup on Nelson Chamisa by his deputy Tendai Biti.
Sunningdale legislator Winnie Kanguni exposed a coup plot
against Chamisa by Biti, which she said was being led by Harare ward 16
councillor Denford Ngadziore as the two went toe-to-toe in an MDC Alliance
leadership WhatsApp group.
Ngadziore triggered the debate, accusing Kanguni of selling
out Chamisa and the MDC Alliance after she attended a Parliament meeting,
saying she should be exposed and dealt with decisively for violating standing
committee resolutions.
“The Parliamentary Portfolio Committees on Health,
Industry, Public Service convened meetings today,” Ngadziore said.
“All genuine MDC Alliance Members of Parliament boycotted
in support of national standing committee resolutions. Those who boycotted
include the chairperson of the Health committee, Ruth Labode (Matabeleland
North proportional representative).
“However, one Kanguni of Sunningadale decided in her great
wisdom or lack of it to attend this meeting, clearly in contrast to the party
position.”
He added: “Kanguni is, hereby, declared a rebel and due
action shall follow immediately after assessing her reasons for defying the
party. More provincial council meetings shall be held this week and all rebels
will be exposed and dealt with decisively.”
Kanguni did not take the attack lying down, accusing
Ngadziore of fanning violence together with Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi
in their bid to oust Chamisa after he led a failed coup on behalf of Biti.
“You are the face of violence, you caused people to be
beaten here and everyone knows that you are a sellout,” Kanguni said.
“Why is it that when MDC Alliance activists are arrested,
you are the only one who escapes jail?
Tell us how you even won the primary elections to become
MDC Alliance candidate.”
She added: “The only reason is you wanted me to join Biti
so that we plot a takeover from Chamisa for 2023. I didn’t join politics to be
an MP,” she said in fierce exchanges in a party structured WhatsApp group.
Biti, who has pledged loyalty to Chamisa in public, is seen
as the next MDC Alliance president, with insiders saying he is just waiting in
the wings to pull the rug from under the feet of his boss.
But other party insiders said it was actually Biti who was
leading the fight against Khupe, Mwonzora and Komichi and galvanising the
legislators to back Chamisa.
Ngadziore denied being party to any plot against Chamisa,
saying Kanguni was trying to divert attention.
He asked her why he had only begun making those claims
after siding with Khupe.
“People want to take advantage of the situation prevailing
right now to score cheap points. I am well aware of that. I respect Kanguni as
my mother, but for her to wait to first violate a party directive, then her
eyes open to the alleged coup plots is just funny,” Ngadziore said.
Attempts to get a comment from Kanguni were fruitless.
The MDC Alliance is in sixes and sevens after MDC-T acting
president Khupe, through Mwonzora, the secretary-general, recalled four
legislators from Parliament last week.
MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende said there
was absolute unity around the leadership of Chamisa and legislators were
rallying behind him.
“The only consideration that is on the table is what the
people of Zimbabwe want,” Hwende said.
“The people of Zimbabwe want a better life, the people of
Zimbabwe want a democratic government that enables them to work for themselves
and feed their families.”
He added: “MPs are representing the people. We are in
politics for the people and solidly behind the leadership of Chamisa, with his
deputies who also solidly support him.”
Meanwhile, the MDC battle has turned nasty in Mashonaland
East province, with the Mwonzora allies having approached the courts seeking a
protection order against the Chamisa-led MDC Alliance councillors.
MDC-T provincial administrator Wellington Makonese has
since approached the courts seeking a peace order against Chamisa allies.
“I have filed for a protection order at the Marondera
Magistrates Court against three councillors and other MDC Alliance officials
who are threatening me as well as causing mayhem at party offices. These are
the same people who besieged and ransacked the party offices,” he said.
The three councillors, Saizi Vilela (ward 11), Charles
Ngwena (ward 4) and Wonder Siriya (ward 6), are set to appear in court on May
27.
The councillors are also being investigated for allegedly
breaking into party offices and removing 47 chairs, among other property,
following the Supreme Court ruling that ordered the party to revert to the 2014
structures, edging Chamisa from the apex.
In a letter dated May 5, Mwonzora said Makonese was the
acting provincial administrator who should stay at the party’s provincial
headquarters. Newsday
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