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Tsvangirai puts house in order
Walter Marwizi, The Standard (Zimbabwe)
December 23, 2007

http://allafrica.com/stories/200712260519.html

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has apparently put his divided faction in order as the countdown for the March 2008 elections begins.

The process began over a week ago when Tsvangirai chaired a national council meeting in Harare where issues threatening the party's cohesion were finally tackled.

At this meeting, the divisive women's assembly issue was finally tabled for discussion and a compromise reached.

Since 3 November discussion on the matter had been deferred until chairperson Lovemore Moyo had presented his report.

The report was on what transpired in Bulawayo where Theresa Makone was elected head of the women's assembly, replacing Lucia Matibenga.

Matibenga, a trade unionist, was dismissed by the standing committee chaired by Tsvangirai a few months ago, triggering a wave of disgruntlement among the party's membership.

Senior officials openly disagreed with Tsvangirai over the way the constitution had been flouted.

Party insiders said Tsvangirai impressed officials at the national council meeting last Sunday when he acknowledged the issue needed to be resolved.

The council achieved a balancing act which could re-energise the membership as the faction prepares for a full-scale campaign for the March 2008 elections.

Matibenga was invited to become a member of the powerful national executive and at the same time agreed that Makone's executive remain in place as an interim executive.

The Makone executive would remain in that capacity until an extraordinary congress is held in June next year.

Party insiders said officials against Makone's ascendancy to the helm of the women's assembly agreed to this arrangement on the basis that it was too late to hold another congress which would again prove to be divisive.

"The focus now should be to unite the party and concentrate all energies on fighting Zanu PF," said a senior party official.

A statement issued by party spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa confirmed this.

"Every member of the Party moves ahead and accepts the need to move forward as a united entity," Chamisa said.

The compromise averted a potential clash with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).

Unhappy with the way Matibenga, the first Vice-President of the trade union, had been treated the ZCTU's women's advisory council had declared that "an injury to one women is an injury to us all".

ZCTU president, Lovemore Matombo, confirmed to The Standard three weeks ago that there was concern in the labour movement over Matibenga's sacking.

A senior party official said yesterday: "I am happy to say this is a balancing act which makes everyone a winner, Tsvangirai, Matibenga and Makone. It could mean that the party focuses on the forthcoming elections."

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