Elton Mangoma Speaks On Fallout With Tsvangirai

In an interview with NewsDay, Coalition of Democrats (Code) presidential candidate, Elton Mangoma, opened up on his fallout with the late MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, saying they differed on matters of principle.

Mangoma said he remained in touch with Tsvangirai despite leaving MDC-T and even visited the former Prime Minister in hospital. Said Mangoma:

I disagreed with Tsvangirai but it was not personal. It was a disagreement on principle, and I never hated Tsvangirai. In fact, I learnt a lot from this man. When he was sick, I actually visited him and when he passed on I went to his funeral. His death was a very sad loss for Zimbabweans. I feel the loss like everyone else. I certainly disagreed with him, but Tsvangirai was like my brother. What I said then — that he was not ‘democratic’ does not change, I meant what I said. But, I also think that Tsvangirai was a good person and I learnt a lot from him.

Mangoma was MDC-T treasurer-general when he quit the opposition party in 2014 after he wrote a letter to Tsvangirai calling on him to step down and allow for leadership renewal, following the party’s defeat to Zanu PF in the 2013 elections.

More: NewsDay