The interim leadership of the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has encouraged opposition party members to challenge and confront their leaders to root out dictatorial tendencies.
According to the newly appointed co-chairperson of MRP, Chilumbo Mudenda, dictators are not only found in ruling parties that are in governments but are also seen in opposition parties.
Mudenda is a member of MRP’s new National Interim Committee (NIC), which was formed to momentarily take charge of the party until its congress in April next year.
This new NIC comes in after MRP members relieved party leader Mqondisi Moyo of his duties and dissolved the National Executive Committee he was leading.
MRP members went on to appoint the NIC, which will be chaired by two co-chairpersons, Mudenda, the party’s youth chairperson and Matabeleland North Chairperson Thembisani Mfulongashi Mpofu to coordinate party activities.
The party will have no president until one is elected at its congress in April 2024.
Addressing journalists at the Bulawayo Media Centre on Wednesday, Mudenda encouraged political party members to learn to confront their leaders if they were failing them.
“We need to have new leaders elected through a congress, which is people driven and people centered, that is how politics happens. It is difficult for people to get used to this scenario because Africa is full of dictators. It’s unfortunate that dictators are not only in the ruling government,” he said.
The MRP official claimed opposition parties also had leaders with dictatorial tendencies.
“Dictatorship is wreaking havoc in the opposition, that is why today you are seeing what is happening within the formation of the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC). Somebody is writing a letter to withdraw Members of Parliament because (CCC leader, Nelson) Chamisa did not agree with the people. He didn’t go for a congress, there is a vacuum,” Mudenda claimed.
He also warned that by allowing dictatorship to reign within opposition areas, political party members were grooming dictators.
He expressed disappointment that the party leadership had neglected to file an appeal against their arrest and alleged the former president stole US$500 meant to be paid as a deposit for lawyers to pursue the appeal.
“Considering the time they have spent in prison, it’s very difficult for us to pursue the appeal. There are conditions. If you appeal, you are released and after a certain period the court is going to sit again. If they were going to be found guilty again, it would be a waste of time,” Mudenda said.
“We are so sorry because of the bad thing our former president did because we would have done our appeal earlier back then. Now they will be out in April next year so there is no need for an appeal. We are waiting for their release by the regime.”
