ho were there, here is what happened.
The function room at Aylestone Football Club, with a seating capacity of about 50, was reportedly packed, although eye-witness accounts put the number of attendees at 38. According to the group, around 100 branches were represented, which if it is true must be a credit to new Organising Secretary Givemore Chindawi, since there were only around 40 branches earlier this month. He has obviously been busy.
The new splinter group is chaired by former treasurer Silence Chihuri. Other posts that were vacant, due to resignations or unexplained suspensions, have all been filled, mainly by unknowns. A surprise omission was Ganya himself, who reportedly cancelled a celebratory braai after the event. Ganya’s position has been difficult because he sometimes claims to be the Chair of Leicester Branch and sometimes presents himself as a separate branch called Leicester2. Another unsuccessful candidate was Noble Sibanda, who openly declared himself anti-MDC at a Central London Forum in October, and has since been Chair of two branches in as many months. Despite his being on Mugabe’s “Banned” list, earlier rumours that he was elected to higher office have proven unfounded.
The split in the UK came at a meeting in December when Nkala, Chihuri and others refused to discuss a directive from the National Chair’s office, saying this was coming from “a faction” of the MDC. The group refused to attend the 300-strong meeting called by the Chair in Birmingham on January 8, which was attended by virtually everyone who has a record of effective activity in the struggle in the UK. In Birmingham the mainstream District made it clear that they were fully behind party President Morgan Tsvangirai.
It has been widely believed that Nkala’s group is in the Pro-senate camp, as Nkala is a sometime friend and confidante of Secretary General Welshman Ncube. However Chindawi said the group resolved to remain neutral and will wait until after the two splinter groups have held their congresses to make a decision on which MDC to support. In a press statement deploring irresponsible statements in the media, new Youth Secretary Bhekimpilo Ngwenya said plans for the upcoming visit to the UK by National Chairman Isaac Matongo, were “within their mediocre political framework and signifies unsound leadership”, so readers can judge for themselves where they stand.
Where does this leave the ordinary refugee in the UK? Many asylum seekers see party membership cards as a sort of “silver bullet” to help with their claims. They will now be faced with a difficult choice of where to obtain these cards. The group, which met in Leicester, holds the secretariat and a large number of cards which the Secretary initially refused to release to the Organising Department. Sales of these cards have not yet been accounted for by former Treasurer Chihuri.
In reality, a party card is only valuable in court on the understanding that it represents some activity that puts a person in danger if they are returned to Zimbabwe. No one in the leadership of this new group has been known to support or participate in regular, effective demonstrations or protests.
Those who hold party cards must be active in the struggle, otherwise these cards become meaningless even to those who genuinely support the MDC, whatever camp they are in. Unless those who met in Leicester on Sunday find a way of being a threat to the Mugabe regime, the cards they issue will do nothing to prove that the holder is in any danger if they are returned home.
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