Cyber war has intensified among the MDC-T senior party officials and has threatened to turn nasty following the recent leaking of WhatsApp chat group messages of senior members trading insults.
Fresh details indicate that party deputy spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo and deputy treasurer Charlton Hwende are accused of leaking the chats to the media.
Hwende was not reachable for comment yesterday while Khumalo said, “I can’t say anything because nothing has been communicated to me.”

The two, according to party insiders, have been targeted by the Thokozani Khupe faction that wants them removed from the party’s Standing Committee.
The faction is reportedly also planning to pass a vote of no confidence on the two when the party’s national executive meets next Thursday.

According to the party’s constitution, only secretaries of organs should sit in the Standing Committee but amendments were made by the national council, the MDC-T’s highest decision making body between congresses, to include deputy secretaries.

The chat groups which include almost all the party’s senior leadership except leader Morgan Tsvangirai fly in the face of the troubled leader who early this year directed that the chat groups be shut down and no one discusses party business in social media networks.

Party insiders told The Chronicle that the Khupe faction want to push for the removal of the two from the Standing Committee for allegedly leaking harsh words exchanged between Hwende and party secretary general Douglas Mwonzora in the party’s group chat named “MDC-T Next Government.”

“There were chats leaked revealing an exchange between Mwonzora and Hwende in a WhatsApp group where Khupe is also a member. After the leaking of the chats, the Khupe faction of which Mwonzora is a member, wants to move a motion that all deputies be removed from the Standing Committee,” said an insider.

“The move, targeted at Khumalo and Hwende, is likely to also affect Mwonzora’s deputy, Paurina Mpariwa who belongs to the Khupe faction. They want to defy a resolution of the party’s national council, typical of their disregard of the constitution and law.”
Efforts to get a comment from Mwonzora were fruitless but party spokesperson Obert Gutu insisted that the party was united.

“Like any family, you’ve arguments but it doesn’t mean that mother and father want to divorce. In any debate, tempers are bound to flare. We believe in robust discussions but it doesn’t mean that the party isn’t united,” he said.

“Whoever leaked those chats has a sinister agenda and I would like to believe isn’t part of us but a Zanu-PF agent. It’s normal that when people discuss, some lose their tempers but that doesn’t make them enemies.”

In the leaked chats, trouble started when Hwende questioned why the party appointed Costa Machingauta as acting organising secretary yet he is not part of the standing committee.

“Is it true that Machingauta was introduced in the Midlands province today as the acting national organiser? Queried Hwende in the group chat on Saturday.
“What happened to the organiser elected by congress? This rumour is getting currency.”
Khupe explained that the organising secretary Abednicho Bhebhe was away on study leave at the Lupane State University and his deputy Thamsanqa Mahlangu was on sick leave.
Hwende argued that it wasn’t constitutional to appoint a person who is not in the standing committee to which Khupe responded, “I’m not sure about that.”

At that point Mwonzora fired at Hwende asking, “Mr Hwende. Why are you in the Standing Committee when Congress said you should not be? The people who had the least votes always say too much.”

Hwende shot back at Mwonzora saying a resolution was made by the party’s national council and reaffirmed by the executive adding, “For a Secretary-General to say that deputies are sitting in the SC illegally that’s very low even for your standard.”

Things turned nasty when Hwende said Mwonzora was an embarrassment and the first party’s secretary-general who failed to pay workers while collecting $4,000 in monthly allowances for himself.

“Those who say $4,000 was taken please post the proof thereof for this group to see. Those who go to the Press to bad mouth their leaders and pretend not to see please stand,” responded Mwonzora.

Hwende insisted that, “senior people must respect the decisions of superior bodies. The National Council made a decision which must be respected. This is a closed chapter we can’t be pushed out. We were elected by congress we don’t have to justify our presence in the SC (Standing Committee) to the SG (secretary general.)”

A day later Mpariwa left the group “with egg on her face” after she allegedly mistakenly posted some members’ names in the group.

“Mpariwa mistakenly sent some names in the group and when pressed who was the intended recipient of the names, she left the group,” said a party insider.
The chat read, “Ndadeleta by mistake but vamwe ndi Robert Dube, Ndawana na Gore.” (I deleted by mistake but the others are Robert Dube, Ndawana and Gore)

After a barrage of questions, Mpariwa left the group and Dube later posted, “Morning leaders. Let it be known to her that we’re not kids and we’re expensive, we can’t be sold. – State Media