MDC fails to strike gender, tribal balance

MDC fails to strike gender, tribal balance

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE'S splintered main opposition party elected new leaders at the weekend, but failed to maintain the delicate tribal and gender balance -- a critical factor in African politics.

Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the fractured Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) retained his position unchallenged. He heads the party's National Standing Committee which only has one woman.

Meanwhile, voting was delayed by nearly two hours after a power black out at the City Sports Centre.

The committee has no representative from the minority Ndebele population in a substantive position, save for Thokozani Khupe and Lovemore Moyo who were only elected as deputies to Tsvangirai and Isaac Matongo (national chairman) respectively.

A political commentator watching the developments said Sunday: "For the first time in Zimbabwe, we have a party that does not have a Ndebele in a substantive leadership position. If you compare with the previous set-up, there were four Ndebeles in substantive positions.

"The treasurer was Fletcher Dulini, Welshman Ncube was secretary general, Esaph Mdlongwa the organising secretary and Paul Themba Nyathi the party spokesman. But that has all been reversed, and it speaks volumes about what is really the cause of the split -- tribal interests. It's a set-up that would shame even Zanu PF."

Nelson Chamisa, who beat Grace Kwinjeh in the race for party spokesman, suggested Sunday that they would be looking to re-establish some balance when the party's national council meets.

Said Chamisa: "These people were all directly elected and we realise that we have to establish some balance, particularly with regards to women because there is only woman in the Standing Committee. I am sure the national council will put that right when secretaries are appointed.

"We should not ignore the fact that this has come from a very, very successful MDC congress. All delegates are back in their districts feeling reinvigorated and ready to confront Mugabe and his dictatorship."

The MDC has split into two after some of Tsvangirai's senior lieutenants left him following differences over the party's policy on senate elections last November. The other faction held its congress last month and elected former student leader Arthur Mutambara as leader.

Mutambara addressed a crowd of about 4 000 cheering supporters in Bulawayo Sunday, and kept up his mantra for a united opposition against President Robert Mugabe's 26-year-rule.

However, the gap between Tsvangirai and Mutambara's camps appears too wide to be bridged.

Tsvangirai addressed his faction's congress Saturday, urging Zimbabweans to brace for a series of "peaceful, democratic resistance" protests against Mugabe's nearly 26-year rule.

"I call upon you to heed calls... for a sustained cold season of peaceful democratic resistance," he told 14 000 supporters gathered at a sports arena on the outskirts of Harare.

He said the country's electoral system and judiciary had failed the party, denying it clear victory in the 2000 parliamentary elections and a 2002 presidential poll.

"We need a short, sharp, programme of action to free ourselves," said the former trade union leader who has led the MDC since its formation more than six years ago.

"If we should come out of our present crisis, the solution will not come from Europe or America.

"The solution is here in Zimbabwe. Only sustained efforts by all Zimbabweans will bring the desired results."

Here is a full list of the officials elected into the MDC's National Standing Committee:

PRESIDENT: Morgan Tsvangirai (unopposed)
DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thokozani Khupe, MP (beat Welshman Mabhena, Gertrude Mthombeni)

NATIONAL CHAIRMAN: Isaac Matongo (unopposed)
DEPUTY NATIONAL CHAIRMAN: Lovemore Moyo, MP (beat Fidelis Mhashu, Sekai Holland)

SECRETARY GENERAL: Tendai Biti, MP (beat T. Mashakada, I. Makone, E. Mangoma)
DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL: Tapiwa Mashakada, MP (beat I. Makone, P. Gwanyaya, Seiso Moyo)

ORGANISING SECRETARY: Elias Mudzuri (beat Paul Madzore, Murirwa)
DEPUTY ORGANISING SECRETARY: Morgan Nkomichi

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY: Nelson Chamisa, MP (beat Grace Kwinjeh)

TREASURER: Roy Bennett (unopposed)

Also elected were the chairpersons of the youth and women's assembly, with Thamsanqa Mhlanga and Lucia Matibenga winning respectively.
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