THE MDC-United States branch of the Thokozani Khupe-led opposition has accused party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora of being a \u201cwarlord\u201d in charge of a violent militia in a bid to personalise the movement to fight alleged opponents.<\/p>\n
In a letter addressed to Mwonzora and party leadership dated August 31, MDC-USA secretary Andrew Chaponda said the Khupe-led MDC T was \u201canaemic\u201d as indiscipline, violence and tribalism rock the opposition party.<\/p>\n
Chaponda\u2019s letter reveals that the MDC-USA branch provided funds for the upkeep of youth that participated in the take-over of Harvest House offices in Harare from the MDC Alliance.<\/p>\n
The youth have, however, been turned into \u201cmarauding vigilantes\u201d in the party\u2019s factional fights, the letter adds, as Chaponda called for their urgent demobilisation as agreed by the party.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one is safe from these marauding vigilantes, including members of the standing committee. It is time for them to go,\u201d part of Chiponda\u2019s letter read.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you are aware, the SC [Standing Committee] has already recommended that they be demobilised, receive their token of appreciation and turn over guard duties to a professional private security firm.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cAgain, as leader of administration and beneficiary of continued occupation, you have failed to implement SC resolutions and leave us wondering whether you are now a warlord in charge of a militia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Party chairperson Morgen Komichi and his deputy elias Mudzuri were also copied.<\/p>\n
The MDC-USA branch accused Mwonzora of not only personalising the opposition party, but selectively implementing party resolutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is prudent that the membership knows in writing, that you have unilaterally and selectively decided to personalise the National Council resolutions in unbeknownst by and in defiance of the members\u2019 wishes,\u201d Chaponda wrote.<\/p>\n
Chaponda cited as an example the failure by Mwonzora to recall Lynette Karenyi-Kore (Proportional representation MP), Theresa Makone and Phyllis Ndlovu as suggested by the provincial structures.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have also been playing footsie with the recall process. You removed their names from the list without explanation. This trio still needs to be recalled as demanded by their provinces and without further delay. Your office exists to serve the membership, not the other way round.\u201d<\/p>\n
The MDC-USA branch also raised concern over Mwonzora\u2019s failure to stamp out rampant tribalism, particularly the one targeted at Khupe that appears to \u201cbe a popular pastime of your (Mwonzora) supporters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have tried to distance yourself from their remarks, but failure to take concrete steps, including suspension and disciplinary hearings, does not fit the abhorrent and so primitive utterances,\u201d Chaponda argued.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs head of party administration, it is your responsibility to instil discipline on errant members, let alone party employees promoting tribalism to advance your candidacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mwonzora was not answering his mobile phone despite repeated efforts. Khupe\u2019s spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni yesterday said the matter was up for discussion during the party\u2019s standing committee meeting on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a SC meeting next weekend, but before the matter is discussed, I cannot comment. I will comment once the matter has been dealt with,\u201d Phugeni said in a telephone interview.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE MDC-United States branch of the Thokozani Khupe-led opposition has accused party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora of being a \u201cwarlord\u201d in charge of a violent militia in a bid to personalise the movement to fight alleged opponents. In a letter addressed to Mwonzora and party leadership dated August 31, MDC-USA secretary Andrew Chaponda said the Khupe-led […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":15157,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[615,88],"class_list":{"0":"post-27405","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-news","8":"category-parties","9":"tag-khupe","10":"tag-mdc"},"yoast_head":"\n