The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Farawo
Tensions are simmering within MDC-T after its leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai bought a US$100 000 Mercedes-Benz ML even though general workers at the party’s Harvest House headquarters have not been paid for months.
Mr Tsvangirai hit hard times following expiry of the inclusive Government (2008-2013) in which he was Prime Minister.
All along, he has been using an executive vehicle purchased by Government during his premiership, and that car deteriorated rapidly due to lack of regular servicing.
MDC-T, too, has been in financial doldrums as its Western funders cut the lifeline when the party lost heavily to Zanu-PF in the 2013 national elections.
Some of its property has been attached to service debts.
Now, some senior party officials and general workers accuse Mr Tsvangirai of snatching crumbs that fell the party’s way to “oil his fixation with keeping up appearances”.
It is unclear how the money for the new wheels was sourced.
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu said, “It is important for the chief executive of the party to have reliable wheels.
‘‘His previous vehicle had become a liability, affecting the party’s efficiency since he is supposed to monitor activities from one district to the next; up to provincial and national level.
“We are aware of the challenges the country is facing . . . genuine party cadres are happy that our leader is now using a reliable car. In fact, party supporters were angry with us, as leadership, questioning why we were letting our leader use a battered car.”
Not all agree.
“We have gone for months without salaries. It, therefore, pains us a lot when somebody who should lead by example comes here and parks a new car when we have not been paid.
“The leadership has always appealed to us to bear with them during ‘these trying times’, but then, how can we soldier on when somebody is chasing luxuries?” asked a party worker.
A member of the youth executive weighed in, “The MDC was formed from a labour movement. However, how the bosses are treating workers dents this image of advancing workers’ interests.
“Our property has previously been attached because we could not settle our debts. In such circumstances, how does an expensive car become a priority?”
Another added: “What we have gathered is that buying him a car could be a bid by some people to show themselves loyal to him. Remember, he once mentioned that some of his lieutenants wanted to organise an early congress and topple him there.
“Read between the lines; some people might as well want to appear like they support him fully, and yet could be manipulating the situation to suit their ends.”
