MDC-N Dissidents Face Disciplinary Hearing

The disillusioned members, led by former national chairman Joubert Mudzumwe, last week filed an urgent high court application contesting Ncube, s election at the congress three weeks ago.The dissidents challenged the legality of the congress arguing that it was improperly conducted.

Ncube ousted former party leader Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara in a bloodless coup.But the Mudzumwe faction has maintained that Mutambara is still the leader of the party which is now known as the MDC-N following Ncube,s election.
Kuraone Chihwayi, the deputy spokesperson of the MDC-N said on Friday his party’s national standing committee met and decided to refer the issue of its “ambitious prodigal sons ” to the party’s disciplinary committee headed by Jacob Moyo.

“All the necessary procedures shall be followed. The party has the capacity and mechanisms to handle its internal disputes,” said Chihwayi.
“As the MDC-N president (Ncube) stated after the standing committee meeting, the party will vigorously fight that court application. As a party we suspect a hidden hand in what they are doing and it has come to our attention that some of our political opponents are

capitalising on the behaviour of these party rebels to cause confusion, ” he said.

“The activities of these rebellious comrades have never affected the operations of the MDC because most of their grievances are baseless, ” he added. The MDC-N standing committee last week also resolved to recall Mutambara from the coalition government. Ncube would step into his shoes.

The party wrote to President Robert Mugabe informing him of the demotion of Mutambara who has been ear-marked for the post of minister of Regional Integration and International Co-operation which was held by the skillful party cadre and Ncube loyalist Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, who is to take over the ministry of Industry and International Trade.