Tsvangirai expelled from MDC

Tsvangirai expelled from MDC - officials

• Tsvangirai to ride storm, but party weak

• Tsvangirai addresses foreign diplomats

• Tsvangirai suspends deputy

• MDC members in fresh push to oust leader

• Court hands Tsvangirai MDC control

• Alex Magaisa: MDC leaders dying of thirst as palm trees appear

• Mduduzi Mathuthu: Voters must demand better leadership

By Staff Reporter

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

Also expelled is MDC national chairman Isaac Matongo, according to a statement issued by the party's disciplinary committee chairman, Gibson Sibanda.

MDC deputy secretary general, Gift Chimanikire, says the decision to expel the two was reached at a disciplinary committee meeting on December 20.

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.

However, Tsvangirai's group retaliated by claiming to have suspended Ncube, Sibanda, Chimanikire and other senior officials who have clashed with the MDC leader.

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.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com