During his year in office membership has more than quadrupled with branches increasing from 19 to 52. He was given a vote of confidence by more than 40 branches at a meeting in Coventry only a week ago.
But a campaign to wrest power continued, apparently organised by relatives of party president, Morgan Tsvangirai. MDC UK sources say the dissident group includes Tsvangirai’s uncle, Hebson Makuvise, the MDC leader’s special representative in the UK.
They said another relative involved was Jaison Matewu of the Portsmouth branch. Others in the group are believed to come from Buhera, Tsvangirai’s own district. The group was apparently assisted by a former Assistant Police Commissioner, Jonathan Chaora, now of Birmingham branch.
The group raised money to fly over the MDC’s national chairman, Lovemore Moyo, after sending a petition to Harare accusing Tapa of incompetence. Several branches reported to have signed the petition have denied any knowledge of it. And a senior member of the Tapa executive, Virginia Ncube, who was alleged to have defected to the Matewu group, says she is considering taking legal action against those misusing her name.
Tapa said he had not been told of Moyo’s visit until four days before his arrival. Speaking after Moyo’s hurriedly called meeting in Northampton, he said the dissolution was a product of nepotism.
What happened here is an assault on both democracy and human rights. The MDC has shown itself to be grossly faulty. This episode is an indication of the amount of work the party needs to do to be truly democratic, otherwise we are just another Zanu (PF). Imagine a government which appoints its relatives to senior positions…. a government that does not respect the right of the people to choose their leader. – Own correspondent
Post published in: News