Opposition MDC restructuring

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party has launched a major overhaul of key structures amid charges that leader Morgan Tsvangirai was losing focus by concentrating too much on foreign relations, ‘The Financial Gazette’ reported on Thursday. Tsvangirai confirmed on Wednesday that his party was restructuring but denied accusations that it was losing political ground and focus.

Among other departments to be restructured are information, security and international relations.

“We are undertaking an internal restructuring exercise of all our organs so that we can consolidate our strength and be ready for the challenges ahead,” Tsvangirai told ‘The Financial Gazette’. The security department, which insiders said was in a shambles and heavily infiltrated by members of the government’s Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), would also be strengthened to prepare it for the crucial 2002 presidential election.

Insiders however say many of the MDC departments lack coordination and are not effective because the party has no clear policy. The MDC, Zimbabwe’s largest opposition party party with 57 seats in the 150-member Parliament, narrowly lost the June general election to the ruling ZANU-PF in a poll marred by unprecedented violence and alleged voter intimidation.