36 MDC members suspended in UK
Mr Ephraim Tapa (far right) sandwiched by concerned members of the MDC
A TOTAL of 36 influential members of the Movement for Democratic Change in the United Kingdom have been suspended for challenging what they describe as “a culture of political nepotism and constitutional irregularities” within the party, Zim Diaspora, can exclusive reveal.
The suspension was proposed by the interim MDC UK chairman Mr John Nyamande in an email forwarded to Zim Diaspora. Mr Nyamande announced that all those who attended the Leicester City meeting in November 2007 called by the deposed MDC chairman Mr Ephraim Tapa were suspended with immediate effect pending disciplinary action.
Mr Tapa called a solidarity meeting to voice his concern over the dissolution of his executive citing serious breaches of the MDC constitution. More than 80 party members attended the emotionally charged meeting and expressed their concern over the unusual procedure followed in dissolving one of the most powerful MDC executives.
It remains to be seen how Mr Nyamande intends to discipline the suspended members in view of specific mandates bestowed on his coordinating committee.
Contacted for comment in Harare, Harvest House a senior member of the MDC said the suspension had not been sanctioned by the party and expressed. “We are not aware of such a development. In fact, Mr Nyamande has no power to pass such a decision because of his status as an interim chairman,” he said.
The suspension comes two months after the MDC National Chairman Mr Lovemore Moyo presided over the dissolution of the Tapa-led executive. Mr Tapa and his disgruntled supporters challenged the legality of the dissolution and appealed to Harare to overturn of the dissolution citing constitutional irregularities.
However, last week, the MDC national council in Harare endorsed the dissolution, a development which paints a bleak future for Mr Tapa and his supporters who now stand suspended for voicing their opinions.
Zim Diaspora is informed by impeccable sources within the Tapa group that following the endorsement of the dissolution last week, Mr Tapa has accepted a Human Rights chairmanship in the UK while other members had vowed to withdraw their support from the MDC saying Mr Tsvangirai was now behaving like president Mugabe. There are also reports that other members were bouncing back to their original party structures.
However, Zim Diaspora has established that the suspension has not been communicated to Harare and there are chances that it might not be recognised by Harvest House following reports that most disgruntled members were now being seduced back to the party by Mr Tsvangirai himself.
We can also reveal that Mr Tsvangirai was personally behind the dissolution because Mr Tapa had refused to recognise his maternal uncle Mr Hebson Makuvise whom he had appointed as Chief Representative to the UK.
One of those suspended is Mrs Addela Chiminya, the widow of Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s agent the late Tichaona Chiminya. Mr Chiminya who was Mr Tsvangirai’s personal agent and campaigner was fire-bombed allegedly by ZANU (PF) secret service in Buhera, the home of Mr Tsvangirai.
Contacted for comment, Mrs Chiminya said: “That is wishful thinking by Nyamande. He has no power to suspend anyone, after all no one has done anything worth suspending because our case was even heard in Harare before the national council. Everyone in Harare knew that we were challenging the dissolution. I honestly don’t regard myself suspended”.
In response Mr Julius Sai Dewa said Mr Nyamande has no constitutional powers to suspend members of the MDC.
“Mr Nyamande should be reminded that he is only the head of temporary co-ordinating committee which have a specific mandate. Unfortunately, he cannot afford to work outside the mandate,” he said.
“Aboveall, I would like to advise him that the law does not work in retrospect as he seems to be implying,” said Mr Mutyambizi, a practising lawyer.
Also suspended is Mr Peter Nyoni who said: “Mr Nyamande himself knows that he has no powers to suspend anyone. I think he is just dramatising. However, my political career does not depend on the MDC”.
“I will soon be announcing my stand following the endorsement of the dissolution in Harare,” said Mr Nyoni.
Statement from the MDC UK & Ireland Interim Chairman
This notice serves to inform all our valued members that all the members who attended the Leicester meeting on the 10th November 2007 have been suspended from the Party pending disciplinary hearing soon. Please open the attachment and read the minutes and their endorsements.
I beseech you ladies and gentle this is not a victory over our brothers and sisters. Talk to them and listen to them and leave everything to the disciplinary committee that will normalise our operations with them.
Remain focused on our noble projects lined up in the new year.
I hope you had a lovely and merry xmas.
God Bless you all.
A NEW ZIMBABWE!!! A NEW BEGINNING!!!!
jnyamande
(Chairman)
THE suspended list
1. Ephraim Tapa Provincial Chairperson
2. Julius Sai Dewa Secretary
3. Edward Nyakudya Organising Secretary
4. Solomon Kutsirayi Treasurer
5. Adella Chiminya Chairwoman Women’s Wing
6. Peter Nyoni Secretary Transport and Logistics
7. Kainos Kuveya Secretary Research and Policy
8. Kudzai Rangarirai Secretary for Legal Affairs
9. Collin Zhuawu Secretary for International Affairs
10. Felicity Mucheuki Secretary Women’s Wing
11. Fadzanai Muchenagumbo Deputy Chairwoman Women’s Wing
12. Tina Ngwenya Treasurer Women’s Wing
13. Mai Mugwagwa Organising Secretary Women’s Wing
14. Patience Kunzekutema Chairwoman Harlow
15. Zed Matsvetu Chairperson Oxford Branch
16. Mugove Zichawo Acting Chairperson Kent
17. Oliver Jeche Chairman Newcastle Branch
18. Wilson Chimuka Chairman Manchester Branch
19. Moses Nyagodzi Chairman Bolton Branch
20. Camillo Kamera Chairman Leicester Branch
21. Fungai Chuma Chairperson High Wycombe
22. Ellet Chiunye Chairwoman Wakefield Branch
23. Freedom Moyana Representative South London Branch
24. Nonthando Nare Representative North London Branch
25. Biggie Purazeni Representative Woking Branch
26. Olga de Vos Acting Chairperson Coventry Branch
27. Edwin Representative Liverpool Branch
28. Tsepo Sethole Reading Branch
29. Rose Manyere Reading Branch
30. Nomthandazo Ndlovu Representative Leeds Branch
31. Lawrence Sibanda Chairperson Derby Branch
32. Alex Chigumira Chairperson Chelmsford Branch
33. Mai Mugwagwa Representative Wolverhampton Branch
34. Charles Chigwada Representative Grays Branch
35. Nomalanga Ndlovu Representative Milton Keynes
36. Tarisai Chikumbirike Representative Northampton Branch