PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has blasted senior MDC-T officials using money to manipulate voters and win senior positions as the party battles to contain internal strife ahead of its national congress to be held at Barbourfields Stadium at the end of the month.
Speaking in Masvingo where provincial election results had to be nullified as two warring factions fight for control, Tsvangirai warned that officials using money to buy votes risked being thrown out of the party.
“Our party is being destroyed by some individuals who are abusing their financial muscles to buy loyalty of people thereby splitting our movement,” Tsvangirai said.
“Our party when we formed it had no money and was a party of the poor with a vision to represent the poor in the country but since the coming in of some people with money the party is dividing, money is splitting our party.”
The MDC-T leader said party structures needed to unite ahead of crucial national elections expected later this year and threatened to dismiss officials fanning factionalism.
“I want to warn all those who are using money to fane factionalism that they have no place in MDC. Any one who will be caught doing that will be expelled from the party because we do not have time to deal with people who want to pull back the struggle,” he said.
“We should be united and strengthen our party so that when we fight our enemy we will be very strong,” he added.
Elections results in several provinces had to be nullified after they were marred by violence between supporters of rival candidates.
State Enterprises minister Gorden Moyo’s victory in Bulawayo had to be cancelled following pitched battles between his supporters and those of his rival, Matson Hlalo, whom he piped by 10 votes.
Three party activists were arrested in the violent skirmishes which left a senior official hospitalised.
The MDC-T was also forced to roll back election results in Masvingo and Midlands North where more clashes took place, while an examination of the Manicaland results was being carried out.