Zim’s main opposition party suspends its leader

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s embattled leading opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has suspended its own leader Morgan Tsvangirai from his position, according to internal party correspondence.

In a letter obtained by AFP yesterday, MDC vice president Gibson Sibanda said a national disciplinary committee had met last week and resolved to suspend Tsvangirai from his position as president with “immediate effect”. Sibanda said the suspension was for misconduct charges including violation of the party’s constitution.”During your suspension you shall not perform any functions of the office of the president of the MDC…you shall not hold, address or attend any meetings, rallies or functions whatsoever organised under the name of the MDC,” said Sibanda.Tsvangirai has also been barred from visiting any of the party’s offices and to surrender all party property in his possession.In response Tsvangirai said the “attempt to suspend” him from the party leadership was unfortunate.”The MDC constitution allows nobody except congress to suspend or dismiss the president,” said Tsvangirai.”Resorting to unconstitutional tactics that play in the hands of (ruling) Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front) reflects the desperate and immature state of mind gripping my erstwhile comrades.”Deputy secretary general of the MDC Gift Chimanikire said Gibson Sibanda, the second in command, has assumed the presidency of the party.The intra party woes rocking the MDC were sparked by disagreements over whether or not to take part in the just ended senate elections.Tsvangirai overruled a decision of the party’s highest decision-making body outside congress, the national council and declared that the opposition would not participate in the polls.The announcement riled the other camp, setting in motion, what now appears to be irreconcilable differences threatening to tear the six-year old party apart.- Nampa-AFPSibanda said the suspension was for misconduct charges including violation of the party’s constitution.”During your suspension you shall not perform any functions of the office of the president of the MDC…you shall not hold, address or attend any meetings, rallies or functions whatsoever organised under the name of the MDC,” said Sibanda.Tsvangirai has also been barred from visiting any of the party’s offices and to surrender all party property in his possession.In response Tsvangirai said the “attempt to suspend” him from the party leadership was unfortunate.”The MDC constitution allows nobody except congress to suspend or dismiss the president,” said Tsvangirai.”Resorting to unconstitutional tactics that play in the hands of (ruling) Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front) reflects the desperate and immature state of mind gripping my erstwhile comrades.”Deputy secretary general of the MDC Gift Chimanikire said Gibson Sibanda, the second in command, has assumed the presidency of the party.The intra party woes rocking the MDC were sparked by disagreements over whether or not to take part in the just ended senate elections.Tsvangirai overruled a decision of the party’s highest decision-making body outside congress, the national council and declared that the opposition would not participate in the polls.The announcement riled the other camp, setting in motion, what now appears to be irreconcilable differences threatening to tear the six-year old party apart.- Nampa-AFP