The MDC council meeting held in Headington, Oxford held
Saturday August 4, 2012 convened to clarify the contentious restructuring
demanded by Article 6.10 of the new constitution. The meeting promised
fireworks and did not disappoint. Southend-on-Sea Branch sent the following
representatives: Stanford Biti, Washington Ali, Sibangani Machingauta, Shiellah
Sibanda, Maidei Ali and Audrey Charowa,
Tonderai Samanyanga the Provincial Chair of the UK and
Ireland External Assembly informed meeting attendees that the purpose of the
meeting was to consult on the way forward in light of the changes to the
Party’s constitution. The major bone of contention was that the new
constitution does away with the District structure as well as the Provincial
executive. The new Constitution which appears to give more autonomy to the
Branches states that branch will have Wards and can nominate an External
Coordinating committee which will then be elected by the National Council in
Harare.
6.10.7.3 Election of the External Coordinating Committee
The External Coordinating Committee shall at a special meeting
called by the National Council elect directly from nominations made by Branches
and Wards, the Chairperson, Treasurer, Organising Secretary and Secretary for
the Main Wing, Assembly of Women, and Assembly of Youth.
Before long it was clear to those in attendance that there
was a skew towards keeping the Samanyanga executive running as is, contrary to
the provisions of the Constitution. What
added fuel to the fire was an email purportedly sent by MDC Secretary General,
Tendai Biti telling the Samanyanga executive to continue as is. Basically the
old structures would just change their titles and remain as they are. This idea
was rubbished by Southend-on-Sea Chairman, Stanford Biti who pointed out that
the coordinating committee had 7 positions but the current provincial executive
has over 20 positions. “How do you select who stays and who goes?” he
enquired. Bristol’s Mrs Mutasa concurred
with this view.
Mr Samanyanga reported that Harare had not given him any
transitional procedures to follow in implementing these changes. The guest of honour was outspoken Bulawayo MP
and former MDC-T spokesperson, Hon Thabitha Khumalo. Impeccably dressed in an
olive-green knee length office dress Hon Khumalo arrived as the debate got
heated. She urged all to follow the party’s constitution. She pointed out that the Party’s constitution
could not be altered or varied by the pen stroke of one man. She urged
Samanyanga & his team to act quickly and decisively to get the matter
sorted out. Hon. Thabitha Khumalo observed that the UK and Ireland was a major
powerbase of the MDC-T party and should be telling Harare the grassroots
supporters’ aspirations.
Hon Thabitha Khumalo also addressed the matter of her
“demotion” from party spokesperson. She noted that the MDC party was at war and
on the battlefield cadres can be moved around by their general. With great
jollity she said she was being reassigned and was looking forward to her new
role.
While the issue seems pretty straightforward that the
coordinating committee must be selected by the branches; what may be interpreted as the of the hogging
of office and dithering by the Samanyanga Executive may be another divisive issue that has the capacity to cause a deep chasm of
mistrust in the external assembly. Mugabe –weary Zimbabweans want transparency
and progress
Audrey Charowa
Vice Secretary
MDC South East District
