By Staff reporter
Despite claims by the MDC that they disbanded that party’s belligerent group, the Vanguard, clashes that took place at Africa Unity Square on Tuesday exposed the lies.
The Vanguard, an ensemble that goes for the throat of every dissenting voice in the MDC, clashed with the group called Defending Morgan Tsvangirai Legacy (DMTL), injuring a number of its members in the ruckus. DMTL is believed to be pro-Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora who is angling for Chamisa’s office.
DMTL members had gathered at Africa Unity Square to demonstrate against continued autocratic tendencies of Chamisa. Among the bones of contention was the issue of congress dates which DMTL wants to be held soonest.
Chamisa through his henchman, Amos Chibaya who is also that party’s organising secretary, has been pushing for the deferment of the elective congress from February to October 2019. The move is viciously being contested by pro-Mwonzora and Pro- Elias Mudzuri factions. They argue that Chamisa wants to buy time so that he put in place systems that ensure his stranglehold on power.
Thirteen DMTL members led by its chairperson, Edwin Dzambara and national coordinator, Wicklord Maravanyika gathered at AUS enroute to Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House where they had intended to demonstrate against Chamisa’s move to merge some districts and provincial structures to consolidate his throttlehold on power ahead of the 2019 congress.
Sources said the party’s leadership got wind of the intention and quickly dispatched 20 members of the vanguard group to AUS. The Vanguard members stoned members of the DMTL accusing them of being members of Zanu PF recruited to destroy their party. The Vanguard quickly vanished into the crowds, making it difficult to make any arrests.
Maravanyika and Redcliff District secretary, Jackie Chenego sustained multiple injuries including broken arms. The two proceeded to make a report at ZRP Harare Central where they managed to identify three members of the Vanguard who attacked them.
The three were identified as George Jabvi, Drogba Makonzo and one only identified Kedha.
Last month, the party’s secretary general of the youth assembly, Lovemore Chinoputsa claimed that the Vanguard was disbanded.
“The Vanguard was a team of youths that went about peaceful drills at party events but was misinterpreted by political detractors as a violent outfit. On the orders of party leadership, the Vanguard was disbanded,” said Chinoputsa.
There have been allegations that the MDC is reviving its militia groups ahead of the demonstrations lined up across the country. One such outfit is the Democratic Resistance Committees (DRCs) which unleashed an orgy of terror in 2008.
While the DRCs targeted external opponents, the Vanguard specialised in crushing dissent within the party.
