09 August 2007

By Never Kadungure

Ephraim Tapa the Chairman of the MDC UK Province appears to have signed his own political death warrant after seeking to unilaterally expel four members of the MDC UK Women’s wing without sanction or consultation with his executive committee. The Chairperson of the National Women’s Assembly Lucia Matibenga, currently in the UK, immediately moved to nullify the autocratic move.

Organizing Secretary Chipo Machida, Jennifer Moyo (secretary), Mercy Nyakupesela (deputy secretary) and Treasurer Victoria Taruvinga were expelled from their positions during a ‘kangaroo meeting’ on Saturday by Tapa who is accused of trying to plant his own stooges in the structures.

Only Tapa and regular side kick Julius Mutyambizi officiated the meeting with one Musarurwa thought to be a Vice Secretary in the Women’s Wing also attending. Matibenga was breathing fire telling online news site Change Zimbabwe.com that, ‘The Women’s Assembly is not a branch of the main wing. It is an independent assembly with its own structures, just like the youth assembly. Zimbabwean women are literate and they cannot be led by women who just do what they are told by the main wing. “I can tell you confidently that election is null and void. I am the Women’s Chair.

‘If Musarurwa, the vice secretary in my executive was on her personal business in the UK or if they bought her a plane ticket to come and divide the party here, I am sorry I am not going to allow this. She is not even from the organizing department, and more importantly the executive does not know about her being here on Women’s Wing business,” Matibenga fumed. Observers say Tapa and his ally Mutyambizi are living on borrowed time. A few months ago they engaged in an online war of attrition with Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro (Secretary for International Relations) regarding their role in diplomatic meetings.

When party leader Morgan Tsvangirai visited the UK his executive hired a small venue which infuriated many MDC supporters who could not get inside. A source told Nehanda Radio that Tapa was not even a long serving MDC member, but galloped his way from the Zim Vigil a few years ago into the party. He only surfaced at elections and after several attempts finally landed a position in the MDC. ‘He is a fly-by night politician who is very power hungry,’ we were told. Meanwhile Mutyambizi did what he is best at and wrote a defamatory e-mail attacking Matthew Nyashanu the Information and Publicity Secretary for issuing a statement distancing the rest of the UK executive from Tapa’s latest gaffe.

Nehanda Radio: Zimbabwe's first 24 hour internet radio news channel.

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