MDC president Nelson Chamisa has said that the opposition movement is a voluntary organization and people are free to sign up or leave, in response to media reports that former MDC Vice President Morgen Komichi was unhappy and wanted out.
Komichi has not been attending MDC events across the country, and was recently reported to have closed ranks with the family of party founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai which he visited without the party leadership’s knowledge.
Asked on social media what the official position was regarding reports that Komichi was unhappy over a number of issues going on in the MDC, Chamisa shot from the hip.
“I’m not aware of any of such. Remember that public entities are voluntary entities. Members sign up and resign. This is normal in all voluntary organizations. Our opposition working 24/7 to portray the people’s party as an entity in turmoil. MDC is a people’s party!” Chamisa said.
A resignation letter circulated on social media yesterday purported to be from Komichi but the Midlands senator said he was part of the MDC.
Speaking to an online news site yesterday, Komichi says he is not sure where the resignation letter originated from, adding that he and other officials in the MDC have been gagged from giving interviews to media.
“People just write stuff. I’m not even sure where the letter is coming from. No, that’s not me,” said Komichi, reputed as the man arrested the most number of times for the MDC cause.
“I won’t say much beyond this, as you know that we are no longer allowed to discuss party issues in the press.”More in Home
Party secretary-general Chalton Hwende recently placed a gag on deputy secretary for international relations, Douglas Mwonzora, warning him that if he further discusses party business in public he could face further action from the party.
Asked whether he was happy with the direction the party is taking since the last congress, having lost a string of by-elections to Zanu-PF including in urban Bulawayo, Senator Komichi was non-committal.
“You can see for yourself where the party is heading, my brother. I cannot speak further beyond that,” Komichi told a local online news site.