MDC splits widen after senate vote

MDC splits widen after senate vote

• Nyathi: MDC to participate in poll

• MDC to boycott senate - Tsvangirai

• Melusi Nyathi: MDC must reconnect with people

• Mugabe sets November 26 Senate poll date

• Tsvangirai plays down rift with Ncube

• Oscar Nkala: MDC should snub senate

• Mugabe calls senate poll for November, MDC undecided

• Msekiwa Makwanya: the MDC, the senate and boycott politics

• Morgan Tsvangirai: The senate, what's in it for the people?

• Grace Kwinjeh: No to senate elections!

• Kwinjeh attacks MDC senate poll participation

• MDC to contest for senate seats

• Prof Jonathan Moyo: New amendments should face battle royal

• New constitutional moves 'will not fly'

• Chinamasa slammed over 'exit visa' threat

• Innocent C Sithole: The MDC and culture of prevarication

• MDC wants to give senate a miss

• Prof Welshman Ncube: Constitutional reforms recipe for disaster

• Zim denies plot to curtail critics' travel

• Dr Alex Magaisa: Constitution without Constitutionalism

• Lucas Nkomo: The right to revolt against tyranny

• Tawanda Hove: Constitutional reforms and MDC mess

• US says Zim moves 'a sad step backwards'

• Rights groups condemn constitutional moves

• Paul Themba Nyathi: Dark day for democracy

• Parliament passes amendment bill

• Prof Jonathan Moyo: Constitutional madness will not save Zanu PF

• MDC ambush Zanu PF with draft constitution

• Zim tables bill to amend constitution

• Lawyers condemn constitutional amendment

• Aspiring Zanu PF senator dies of poisoning

• Alex Magaisa: Constitutional amendment spells doom for economy

• Chinamasa admits Zanu PF has no two thirds

• Zimbabwe senate will last only 5 years

By Staff Reporte

ZIMBABWE'S opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was caught-up in a farcical public relations disaster after senior officials rowed over the party's position on the senate elections next month.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai -- who supports a boycott -- stormed out of a national council meeting after the pro-senate vote won the day by 33 to 31 votes. There were two spoilt votes.

He later addressed journalists at his home, saying the council had been "split 50:50" and he had used his executive powers and cast the deciding vote in rejection of participating in the elections.

Flanked by two top party officials, Fidelis Mhashu and Tapiwa Mashakada, Tsvangira told reporters: "The council resolved to stay out of the Zanu PF senate project."

The story was immediately sent around the world, and carried by the British Broadcasting Corporation among other media organisations.

A few hours later, the MDC information department headed by Paul Themba Nyathi released a statement countering Tsvangirai's claims.

The statement, signed by Nyathi, said: "After five hours of deliberations the MDC National Council being the supreme organ of the party between congresses resolved to take secret ballot of all its members present including the six members of the management committee in the resultant vote of 33 councilors in favour of participation while 31 voted against with 2 ballot papers deemed to have been spoilt.

"In these circumstances the National Council of the MDC resolved by a majority that the party would contest the senatorial election scheduled for 26 November 2005."

The MDC divisions were sweet music to the ruling Zanu PF, with party spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira saying Tsvangirai's stance was confirmation that the party now realised that "if they fight the senatorial elections they will lose dismally."

"Their support has been dropping steadily over the past five years," crowed Shamuyarira. "The party has been rejected by the people and the MDC leadership has realised that."

Chris Gwatidzo, a political commentator with the Midlands State University told the Daily Mirror: "What it means by over-riding a decision of the majority is that he disregards the democratic process of elections. If he can do so whilst in the party, what more if he wins the presidency if ever he does at all?

"If he refuses to lose, it tells us something about why he has refused to accept defeat in all the elections held since 2000."

Sources told New Zimbabwe.com that all the Matabeleland provinces, Bulawayo, Manicaland and the Midlands had voted for participation in the elections, arguing that constituencies with MDC MPs could not have Zanu PF senators. Harare province, Chitungwiza, the three Mashonaland provinces, Masvingo and the youth wing all voted for a boycott of the election.

Senior party officials from both sides expressed dissatisfaction with Tsvangirai's "dictatorial stance", with one official saying: "Tsvangirai will never fully recover from this."

Sources said Tsvangirai had been poorly advised when he accepted the vote in the first place.

"I was against participation," said one councilor. "However, once we had committed ourselves to the vote, I thought everyone at that stage accepted that the outcome would be binding, as it should, but it appears Tsvangirai had other ideas."

Sources said senior members of the MDC's national executive would meet Tsvangirai for 'clear-the-air talks' on Thursday morning. It is expected a statement will be issued after the talks spelling out the party's common position and limiting the damage to the party's reputation.

Professor Welshman Ncube, who denies any presidential ambitions, was said to be "bitterly disappointed."

"This is yet another blunder to add to his catalogue of errors. From appearing in public receiving cheques from whites, calling for a 'final push' right through to the Ari Ben Menashe blunder, some people have been working tirelessly to clean up after Tsvangirai and after today, many will stop defending him and leave him exposed," said another official.
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