Tsvangirai appeases disgruntled party members

Tsvangirai yesterday convened his party’s national council meeting, where he co-opted into the national executive, former deputy secretary-general, Tapiwa Mashakada, former Science and Technology minister, Heneri Dzinotyiwei, ex-party secretary for health, Blessing Chebundo and several others.

Observers said the move was meant to ease tensions and avoid a potential split as many of his officials were still grumbling about the October congress, which created some frictions still rocking the party MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu confirmed that Tsvangirai proposed that the five be co-opted into the national executive to demonstrate there “were no losers in the party”.

Gutu said the party parliamentary caucus also met before the national council and elected chief whip, Innocent Gonese, James Maridadi and one female MP into the national executive.

“In the MDC-T, everyone is a winner, there is no loser, the party’s internal democracy doesn’t mean there should be enemies. That spirit of magnanimity should be shown. The president proposed and council resolved and agreed that five new national executive members be appointed,” he said.

Former MP, Mathius Mlambo (Manicaland) was also co-opted into the national executive council together with Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Heath chairperson, Ruth Labode.

“This shows no one is a loser in MDC-T as we build the party. All of them automatically qualify to be in the national council,” Gutu continued.

He said the party agreed to fine-tune its policies and come up with an election manifesto. He said the party would soon start preparing to push for reforms and elections.

Gutu said the national council also agreed that party leaders lead from the front in demonstrations against the poor state of the economy.