MDC-T to Confront Bennett on Calls For Tsvangirai to Quit
Jonga Kandemiiri
Roy Bennett
WASHINGTON DC —
The MDC formation of former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says it will soon summon exiled treasurer-general, Roy Bennett, to clarify statements he allegedly made on the state of the labour-backed movement, including calls for Mr. Tsvangirai to resign after failing to dislodge Zanu PF in three elections.
Bennett allegedly told the South African newspaper ‘Business Day’ and other online publications that Mr. Tsvangirai has already served his two terms and should pave the way for new blood, especially as he gears for a third term.
Bennett at the weekend called for a new leadership of the troubled opposition party, suggesting that Morgan Tsvangirai’s continued stay in power did not reflect the will of the people.
The former commercial farmer said he was at odds with the rest of the MDC-T’s top brass, who have endorsed the opposition leader.
"Mr Tsvangirai has served two terms and is nearly completing a third," Bennett said. "Deep introspection needs to be undertaken by our national collective leadership, not for purposes of looking for scapegoats, but for our party to reinvigorate its leadership with a leadership which reflects the will of our people."
But Mr. Tsvangirai, through his spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka, seemed to hit back Sunday saying he will not step down before the party’s congress in 2016.
MDCT spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told VOA the party will soon engage Bennett over the statements and decide what action or measures to take against him.
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Interview With Douglas Mwonzora
Bennett in turn told VOA that what he's calling for is a 'serious introspection' into the party's leadership 'and those who have been involved in the undemocratic practices that have put the people in the sad state of affairs they are in should resign'.
“If Morgan Tsvangirai in his individual capacity took that decision then he must resign,” Bennett said in apparent reference to the decision by the MDC to participate in the July elections in the absence of key reforms.
