By Thando Ncube

HARARE - A senior official of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, Lucia Matibenga, has filed papers at the High Court challenging her ouster as the chairperson of the party’s Women’s Assembly.

Matibenga, who is also the first vice-president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), filed the urgent interdict seeking to bar the MDC from going ahead with elections to elect new leadership in the women’s wing.

The Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC two weeks ago dissolved the Women’s executive led by Matibenga in a move that has plunged the opposition party, into serious chaos ahead of next year’s presidential and parliamentary polls.

In a statement released yesterday, Matibenga lashed out at the MDC leadership accusing it of violating the party’s constitution.

“The MDC leadership is breaking the constitution left, right and centre. I have applied for an interdict to stop them holding an extraordinary conference on 28 October (to elect new leaders). 

“My application is an attempt to force the MDC to follow its constitution,” said Matibenga.

The former women’s leader said the MDC’s standing committee had no powers to dissolve the Women’s Assembly as it had no decision-making powers with such powers only vested in the party’s National Council.

Matibenga also said the party’s constitution was clear that changes in the make-up of the Women’s Assembly could only be effected after an extra-ordinary party congress.

“The MDC leadership is showing it is allergic to strong women, they want women they can manipulate,” said Matibenga in the statement.

MDC deputy secretary for international relations, Grace Kwinje, said Matibenga’s case was a cause for concern adding that Zimbabweans were tired with autocratic management.

“This is no longer just about women, but about how men and women in the MDC leadership uphold the laws that they have put in place.

“They adopted both the Women’s Assembly and National Party Constitutions and it is absurd that they are violating them,” said Kwinje.

MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa could not be reached for comment on the matter last night.

The MDC is a shadow of its former self after it split two years ago after Tsvangirai overturned a National Council decision to participate in senatorial elections.

Respected academic, Arthur Mutambara, now leads a rival faction of the MDC.

Political analysts could Mugabe could still win next year’s presidential election ahead of the two MDC factions despite a worsening economic crisis that has been described by the World Bank as unprecedented for a country not at war. - ZimOnline