Lucia Matibenga: "Tsvangirai let the people be heard"

Thursday I November 2007



Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday as the party under Morgan Tsvangirai staggers from crisis to crisis.


Tsvangirai's bodyguards on Tuesday night assaulted two party MP's Amos Chibaya and Emmanuel Chisvuure at party headquarters, while a third Paul Madzore has been threatened. Chisvuure who sustained injuries to his face after complaining at party headquarters that the MDC was contravening its constitution after Tsvangirai disbanded the Women's Assembly, told Voice of America, "I feel that thugs are in control, this is not the first time our party has had these skirmishes."

Women leaders have come under particular attack in the MDC - MP Trudy Stevenson was hospitalised after an attack and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga also an MP moved to an opposing faction of the MDC under Welshman Ncube after being beaten by party thugs. Last Friday the legitimate MDC Women's Assembly head, Lucia Matibenga won a court order against Tsvangirai's move, the court said only the Women's Assembly could dissolve itself.

At the weekend the MDC held an illegal secret meeting at a Bulawayo restaurant, attended by less than 100 people and elected MDC funder and beauty salon owner, Theresa Makone as the new Women Assembly head. She is the wife of Ian Makone, MDC director of elections. A woman interviewed by VOA who was present at the election said, "we support Morgan Tsvangirai but Theresa Makone is destroying the party with expensive gifts and money (to the party leadership)."

Tsvangirai's thugs also harassed female members of Harare Province before a crisis consultative meeting on Tuesday, at which Tsvangirai wished to get endorsement for his illegal dissolution of the Women's Assembly. Harare Province Women's Chairperson, Rorina Dandajena confirmed that she and other women had been intimidated by the Tsvangirai thugs.


"By the time people get into a meeting they are so nervous of victimisation their level of participation is compromised," responded Matibenga.


The Bulawayo youth assembly which has put its weight behind Matibenga has also been barred from going into the party's provincial offices.

Tsvangirai who is faced with a serious rebellion, by MP's, and national party structures is carrying out a purge of the so called, 'ring leaders' before the crucial crisis meeting on Saturday. The meeting is meant to belatedly deliberate on the illegal dissolution of the Women's Assembly.

In a hard hitting editorial today on a UK based website, commentator, Obert Madondo said: "Zimbabweans must reclaim the democratic project. The MDC owes them for the many second chances they gave Tsvangirai. The least the MDC can do is liberate us from Tsvangirai. He is unfit to replace Robert Mugabe, let alone rule Zimbabwe."

Ends

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