By Tendai Matunhu
MDC Tsvaira Zim clean-up campaign, a parallel programme to the Government’s National Clean-up campaign, is failing to attract traction due to factional bickering, the Harare post can reveal.
A source within the MDC alleged that there is a team led by the party’s Secretary for Presidential Affairs, Morgen Komichi which is sabotaging the programme chiefly meant to improve the party’s visibility.
“Komichi is working with Douglas Mwonzora to sabotage (MDC leader Nelson) Chamisa’s programmes. As a party, we have adopted smart campaign and the clean-up campaigns are one form of such campaigns meant to provide our leader with a platform to tackle party issues without attracting the attention of the police,” said the source.
“Our clean-up campaign conducted in Overspill, Epworth dismally flopped with only 170 people turning up against an expected attendance of 10 000. Considering that Epworth is one of our strongholds, it was a rude awakening. This clearly shows the level of bickering within the party,” he said.
The organisers, the source said, had to advise Chamisa to shun the event to avoid embarrassment.
Source went on to say that Komichi was in Epworth prior to the clean-up where he allegedly connived with District Assembly leadership and the National Assembly member for the area, Earthridge Kureva to discourage supporters from attending the programme.
“After the campaign, the MDC Chief Whip, Prosper Mutseyami assaulted Kureva who he accused of allowing Komichi to conduct secret meetings in Epworth denouncing Chamisa. It was a real chaos with senior members such as National Assembly Member of for Budiriro Costa Machingauta, National Assembly Member for Mabvuku-Tafara constituency and MDC Secretary for National Security James Chidhakwa, and Provincial Chairperson for Harare Eric Murai accusing each other of embezzling funds meant to transport members to the clean-up campaign,” said the source.
The MDC had another clean-up campaign in Bulawayo where an average of about 20 people turned up.
Factional fights have been long standing in the MDC with battle lines drawn between the old guard led by Deputy Secretary for International Relations Douglas Mwonzora and Chamisa led young turkeys comprising of the new and energetic members such as the Secretary for Education, Sports, and Culture Fadzayi Mahere and Secretary General Charlton Hwende.
Last year in 2019, there were also clashes in Bulawayo where those aligned to MDC National Assembly member Tabitha Khumalo, were denied entrance into ward congress venues by security personnel. Khumalo, who is associated with Mwonzora, was reportedly eyeing the vice presidency alongside the then vice presidents Morgen Komichi and Welshman Ncube.
