Drama after Drama: MDC youths evict their President Mwonzora and seize control of party headquarters

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is in a tense fight for its premises after an activist from the party seized the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai building, popularly known as Harvest House.

The building, known as Harvest House, was seized by Shakespeare Mukoyi, who serves as the Secretary for Defence, on Wednesday. He claimed to have evicted Douglas Mwonzora, whom he accused of running down the party.

Speaking after the takeover of the party headquarters, Mukoyi said the once formidable opposition party had fallen under Mwonzora’s leadership.

“In the history of the MDC, even in the hostile areas, never had a day it got a zero on a polling station, let alone in a ward. So it gives us a worry as members of the security. Currently, I am holding the position of secretary for defence. It is my obligation and powers invested in my office to make sure that I defend this movement from internal adversaries to external adversaries,” said Mukoyi.

The takeover by Mukoyi 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.

In a statement, the MDC said the move was an attempt to thwart the party’s resistance to ZANU PF’s agenda to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure.

“It has come to the attention of the party leadership that one of our comrades gone rogue, Shaky Mukoyi, has locked the party’s head office on the guise of purportedly seeking medical assistance.

“It opened up an opportunity for those who have sold their souls to the regime who are advocating for the 2030 agenda within the party,” said MDC.

The MDC added that it would reclaim the building from the youths.

“We will not give in to extortion and rapacity as the MDC assets belong to bona fide members and under the custodianship of the current leadership under the law.

“Thuggery and banditry are not an MDC culture and will never be since we have been victims of these since the Mugabe regime.

“Lastly, let me reassure our members, members of the media, the diaspora, and all those who are concerned that within no time, we are taking our property back.”

*_Source: NewZimbabwe_*

*Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema to make first official visit to Zimbabwe since taking office*
https://chat.whatsapp.com/Cck3jv3a10D7Z4wQWEJ1dx?mode=wwc…
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is scheduled to make his first visit to Zimbabwe this Friday for the inaugural session of the Zambia–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC), which he will co-chair with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

This will be Hichilema’s first official visit to Zimbabwe since he took office in 2021.

The high-level visit marks a new phase in bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries, focusing on strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, transport, and other key sectors.

In a statement released Wednesday, Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe said the establishment of the BNC demonstrates the two Presidents’ shared commitment to deepening cooperation and advancing joint development efforts.

“During the visit, President Hichilema and President Mnangagwa will co-chair the inaugural session of the Zambia–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC), which upgrades the existing Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) to a higher framework of strategic engagement,” Haimbe said.

“The establishment of the BNC underscores the shared vision of the two Heads of State to strengthen bilateral cooperation, accelerate joint infrastructure projects, and deepen economic integration between the two nations.”

The Zambian government also described the visit as a reaffirmation of the “deep and enduring bonds of friendship, shared history, and mutual respect” that have long defined relations between Harare and Lusaka.

The meeting, however, comes amid strained diplomatic ties following the August 2023 elections in Zimbabwe, when election observers led by former Zambian Vice President Nevers Mumba said some aspects of the polls fell short of democratic standards.

Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu PF, accused Zambia of interference, while tensions escalated further after President Mnangagwa’s remarks to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he expressed concern over Zambia’s growing alignment with Western powers.

Mnangagwa suggested that the United States was extending its influence in Zambia, potentially threatening regional stability.

In response, Zambia accused Zimbabwe of undermining its sovereignty and urged SADC and the African Union (AU) to intervene to defuse tensions.

NewZimbabwe