Tsvangirai gives himself five months to sort out MDC mess

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai today gave himself five months to sort out the mess within his party by calling for a congress in October. The MDC has been rocked by internal squabbles over whether Tsvangirai should continue to lead the party after a third failed attempt to become the country’s president. Tsvangirai insists that he has never been beaten by Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front leader Robert Mugabe, but the reality is different. The only time Tsvangirai won was in March 2008 but he was outmanoeuvred by Mugabe and accepted the junior post of Prime Minister. The current split with secretary-general Tendai Biti on one side and Tsvangirai on the other has divided the party along two power that cannot do without the other. Tsvangirai has the people. Biti has the money. But having dragged each other through the dirt so far with Biti suspending Tsvangirai on Saturday and Tsvangirai expelling Biti today, this could mark an irreparable split that could see the two factions holding parallel congresses in October. Five months is not too long to wait. The problem is can Tsvangirai pull through? He has more to lose than Biti.

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