Party activists milled outside the headquarters Harvest House supporting both Makone and the ousted Lucia Matibenga. The latter was barred from entering the building and spent more than an hour standing at the entrance flanked by her supporters. Â
Makone, who had entered the meeting hoping to be accepted was also ejected after some executive members argued that the matter was yet to be resolved and she was therefore ineligible to attend. MDC spokesman, Nelson Chamisa said in a statement, “The MDC national executive met this morning and deliberated briefly on the Women’s Assembly issue and resolved to set aside discussion on the matter until the National Chairman gives a report on the circumstances surrounding the extra-ordinary Women’s Congress held in Bulawayo last weekend.”
The issue of the Women’s Assembly structure has threatened to cause another split after the party leadership dissolved the executive led by Matibenga, whose court challenge against that decision flopped before a controversial meeting held in Bulawayo elected Makone. – Itai Dzamara