Smaller MDC Faction To Support Tsvangirai's MDC On Speaker Election

Elections are tentatively set for Tuesday in Parliament. The party’s national standing committee had on 20 March resolved to abstain from
the polls from the polls citing complicity of ZANU-(PF) and the Tsvangirai led MDC T in President Robert Mugabe’s refusal to swear Welshman Ncube as one of
the three principals in the coalition government.

But in an interesting climb-down the smaller MDC faction secretary general Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, said the events of the past days merited a
change in position.

The party said in particular the timing of the re-arrest of Elton Mangoma, the MDC T minister of Energy and Power Development and the
alleged threats of further arrests of MDCT members of parliament by the police.

About seven legislators from MDC T, including party leader Prime Minister Tsvangirai  were said to be facing arrest so that they
are not able to vote in the polls in which Zanu (PF) will. Field national chairman, Simon Khaya-Moyo.

“This means that Zanu (PF)is seeking to rig the vote in the Speaker’s election by getting an unfair electoral advantage over the MDC T by
the illegal reduction of eligible members of parliament able to participate in the Speaker’s elections,” said Misihairambwi-Mushonga.

She said her party would not watch such an injustice take place.

“Whilst our view remains that the MDC T does not deserve our vote, we have now decided that due to our belief in the fundamental values of
justice, freedom, and democracy, we will urge our MPs to vote for the MDC candidate,” she added.