MDC expels Tsvangirai

2005-12-24 16:30

Harare - Senior officials of Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) say they have officially expelled party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

According to the state-run Herald newspaper, MDC chairman Isaac Matongo was also expelled.

MDC deputy secretary general, Gift Chimanikire, says the decision to expel the two was reached at a disciplinary committee meeting on Tuesday.

Chimanikire said: "Having found both of them guilty of the charges, the committee felt it had to make a decision based on principle and not on convenience and decided that expulsion would meet the justice of the offences".

Tsvangirai and senior officials - including Chimanikire and MDC secretary general Welshman Ncube - fell out earlier this year, disagreeing if the party should contest the November senate polls.

Tsvangirai wanted a boycott, others felt the MDC should stand by its internal vote in favour of participation.

Tsvangirai was suspended from the party as a result of the disagreement.

Chimanikire said Tsvangirai had ignored the national council vote for participation in the polls, and had publicly denigrated other MDC officials.

Chimanikire added Tsvangirai had also re-instated party youths suspected of violent behaviour.

- SAPA