Harvest House, the headquarters of the MDC (Tsvangirai), was the scene recently of scuffles among agitated youths belonging to the MDC.
Some said one of the groups of youths was waiting to “take action” in the event that the outcome of the youth meeting taking place was not in conformity with party president Morgan Tsvangirai’s position on the contentious issue of the
dissolution of the Women’s Assembly leadership headed by Lucia Matibenga.
The other group, belonging to the Matibenga camp, was also bracing for war and vowing to “fight to the bitter end”.
This followed assaults two weeks before, which I witnessed, against MPs Emmanuel Chisvuure, Amos Chibaya and Paul Madzore at the party headquarters by youths over the differences caused by the same issue.
Journalists going about their duties are defined by the various camps on the basis of what they perceive about their coverage and one can easily get mugged or barred from entering Harvest House.
This is a very bad omen for Zimbabwean politics, to have the MDC – believed by many to be capable of wrestling power from Zanu (PF) and leading this country to better days – inculcating a culture of barbarism and violence.
The former trade union leader might not be giving the issue of violence within his party the attention it deserves. This country cannot afford this, whether Tsvangirai and his party gain power or remain in the opposition. We already have an outfit called Zanu (PF) possessed with the demon of violence.
The manner in which issues of power or personality split the party into warring camps exposes something wrong regarding the party’s fundamental values and principles. At the core of it are selfish interests and agendas that are allowed to overshadow commitment to the main issues – unity, democracy, fairness and magnanimity. That surely casts aspersions on the leadership!
If the barbarism and violence in the MDC is allowed to continue, and if they win power, who is to say the CIO, police, army, will not simply be handed over to a new set of barbarians? – hararestreets@yahoo.com
Post published in: News