Allegations of violence, vote-buying, tribalism and jostling for top positions at last weekend’s national congress of Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change have dealt a blow to the party’s improving fortunes.
The MDC recently scored crucial political victories against Zanu-PF, retaining the post of Speaker of Parliament and sealing its majority in Parliament. It has also garnered overwhelming support from the Southern African Development Community to oppose Zanu-PF-led crackdowns against its supporters.
The national congress was intended to further consolidate the MDC against Zanu-PF ahead of the elections expected this year. Instead, it created deep divisions in the party and posed a challenge to Tsvangirai’s 12-year leadership.
Although Tsvangirai retained the party presidency, the run-up to the congress was marked by violent clashes among MDC youth members and conflict between Gorden Moyo and Matson Hlalo for the coveted Bulawayo chairperson position, denting the party’s pro-democracy image.
Zanu-PF has expertly exploited these internal squabbles to attack Tsvangirai as “a leader without real power” and accuse the MDC of “ill discipline” and involvement in violence across the country.
Eager to be seen reining in the chaos in his party, Tsvangirai promised to set up an independent Âcommission to investigate all acts of violence.
“We know those people causing violence — we don’t tolerate violence and party leaders sponsoring it face expulsion and will be investigated thoroughly,” he said.
A senior MDC official told the Mail & Guardian of the extensive vote-buying that overshadowed the congress, a worrying sign that the party has lost its pro-poor stance and has been overtaken by elitist practices.
“It’s known that people were paid as much as $3 000 to buy votes for the provincial posts. This congress wasn’t concerned about ordinary people, but with the self-serving interests of power-hungry individuals,” said the official.
While other party heavyweights, including Tendai Biti, Nelson Chamisa, Lovemore Moyo and Roy Bennett, romped to easy victories at the congress, veteran leader Elias Mudzuri lost the race for the post of national organising secretary. Mudzuri has long been viewed as an ambitious schemer who is seeking to oust Tsvangirai.
In a Cabinet reshuffle last year Tsvangirai dropped Mudzuri as a minister, strategically paving the way for his removal from top party structures.
The conference also sparked complaints of tribalism in the MDC’s executive committee; only three of its 13 leaders — Moyo, Thokozani Khuphe and Abednico Bhebhe are drawn from the Ndebele-speaking regions.
Traditionally, the Matabeleland and Midlands regions have been bastions of support for the MDC during elections.
The smaller MDC faction, led by Welshman Ncube, has recently stepped up its criticism of perceived tribal representation in Tsvangirai’s grouping. This has had a knock-on effect among some of Tsvangirai’s supporters, who have intensified their calls for a “regional balance” in the leadership.