Mwonzora fires MDC Defence secretary for treacherous conduct after take over of party headquarters
MOVEMENT For Democratic Change (MDC) has dismissed Shakespeare Mukoyi from his position as Secretary for Defence following a hostile takeover of the party offices last month, which he spearheaded.
Harvest House was seized by Mukoyi, who claimed to have evicted the opposition party’s leader, Douglas Mwonzora, accusing him of running down the party.
In a statement, MDC accused Mukoyi of being treacherous in leading the takeover of its premises.
“The President of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Senator Douglas Togaraseyi Mwonzora, has with immediate effect withdrawn the appointment of Mr. Stewart Shakespeare Mukoyi as Secretary for Defence.
“This decision follows a pattern of treacherous, criminal, and deeply regrettable conduct by Mr. Mukoyi, which has brought the party into disrepute. His actions have included the glorification of militant, unlawful, and violent takeovers, behaviour that stands in direct contradiction to the core values of the MDC.
“Ours is a democratic movement that aspires to assume state power through peaceful, constitutional, and lawful means. We condemn in the strongest terms any acts that undermine that vision,” read the statement.
The dispute over Harvest House is the latest battle for what remains of the MDC, which took a political nosedive after the death of Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018.
Since 2018, the party has been rocked by infighting and splits, weakening a movement that had formidably challenged ZANU PF under Tsvangirai.
The MDC under Mwonzora took over Harvest House in 2020 from the MDC Alliance, which was then led by Nelson Chamisa, at the height of the party’s infighting.
MDC further accused Mukoyi of extorting party funds.
“Mr. Mukoyi and his associates have gone further to engage in acts of lawlessness, including the extortion of party funds, violent conduct, and the illegal occupation of party premises.
“These acts are not only in violation of party rules but also of the national laws of Zimbabwe. Let it be known that any individual or entity that chooses to associate with Mr. Mukoyi and his co-conspirators does so at their own peril.
“Their actions are not only unconstitutional but are also in contempt of court, as the matter regarding the illegal occupation of MRT House is currently before the courts. Any attempt to misrepresent legal standing ahead of the court’s decision is a further assault on the rule of law,” read the statement further. _*NewZimbabwe*_
