by Harare Post correspondent
The MDC-T members have accused their counterparts in the MDC-Alliance of closing the democratic space, a crime the latter accuses ZANU PF of committing, The Harare Post can report.
The complaints were raised during a series of meetings that the MDC-T Secretary General and party presidential hopeful, Douglas Mwonzora is conducting to solicit support for his presidential bid during the upcoming extra ordinary congress scheduled for this month.
“We are living in fear of the MDC-Alliance members who are threatening to burn our houses if we continue associating ourselves with the MDC-T. Some of us have been told that we will die before year end for aligning ourselves with the MDC-T. We appeal to you our leadership for protection because we don’t know when the MDC-Alliance will strike,” complained an MDC-T member from Manicaland.
Taurai Ruwizhi of Manicaland said that it was a pity that they were facing hostility from their fellow opposition members instead of the ruling party.
“We expected to face hostility from ZANU PF, which we both seek to oust from power. Ironically, we are facing it from our brothers in the MDC-Alliance. I don’t think we can dislodge ZANU PF from power if we still fight against each other as opposition members,” complained Ruwizhi.
In Masvingo, Mwonzora also heard the same complaints from the MDC-T members who are also being threatened by MDC-Alliance members.
Charity Murinye told Mwonzora that it was surprising that the MDC-Alliance claims to be a democratic political formation, when they go around threatening people who don’t share the same political views with them.
“The MDC-Alliance claims that they are a democratic party, but their members are threatening us each day. We are no longer able to conduct our party business freely. Ironically, their leader Nelson Chamisa was allowed to campaign even in ZANU PF strongholds during the run-up to 2018 elections. Now they don’t want us to freely do our party business,” said Murinye.
Mwonzora told the MDC-T members that they should report all threats they are facing from the MDC-Alliance to the police. He further assured the MDC-T 2014 structures that the process of electing that party’s president will be held in a free and fair environment.
