MDC leader gets flak
20/10/2005 14:44  - (SA)  

MDC in crisis talks MDC in crisis talks Mugabe: Opposition irrelevant Mugabe: Opposition irrelevant MDC split over senate polls MDC split over senate polls MDC to boycott senate polls MDC to boycott senate polls Protest walk a 'cheap stunt' Protest walk a 'cheap stunt' 'Zim govt should step down' 'Zim govt should step down' MDC might boycott elections MDC might boycott elections 'It's not worth talking to MDC' 'It's not worth talking to MDC'

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Harare - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's deputy accused him on Thursday of misconduct and fanning violent internal divisions, deepening a split that threatens to break up the organisation.

Gibson Sibanda, vice-president of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said Tsvangirai repeatedly breached provisions of the party's constitution and its code of conduct.

The party's top six leaders held an emergency meeting on Wednesday to try and heal the rift. But Sibanda's statement indicated little progress was made.

The labour-backed party, formed in 1999, presented the first major challenge to President Robert Mugabe's increasingly autocratic rule. But it has lost three elections amid allegations of vote rigging and intimidation.

Divisions erupted last week over whether the party should contest another poll on November 26 for a new Senate dismissed by Tsvangirai as an attempt by Mugabe to strengthen his grip over Parliament.

Tsvangirai ordered the party to boycott the vote, but its 66-member executive narrowly voted in favour of participation. Tsvangirai stormed out of the October 12 meeting.

Sibanda, who favours contesting the poll, said Tsvangirai defied that decision by insisting the opposition would not take part. He also allegedly made threats and disparaging comments against members who opposed his view, Sibanda said in a statement.

The statement said inquiries into "violent activities" against some national and provincial party officials established the involvement of Tsvangirai's office and his bodyguards. The party fired two of the bodyguards, but Tsvangirai allegedly rehired them, Sibanda said.

"By his actions, the president has willfully violated the constitution of the MDC," he said. "The party will not allow one person or a group of persons to destroy them."

The statement stopped short of demanding Tsvangirai's resignation. Neither Tsvangirai nor Sibanda were immediately available for further comment Thursday.

The opposition won just 41 of the 120 elected seats in Parliament's 150-seat lower house in March.

A new 66-seat upper house, including 50 elected members, was created by a recent constitutional amendment. The opposition opposed the amendment and Tsvangirai argues that participating in the election will give credibility to the chamber.

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