MDC Fires Shakespeare Mukoyi Over Hostile Takeover Of Harvest House

The MDC has fired Shakespeare Mukoyi from his role as Secretary for Defence after he led a takeover of the party’s headquarters last month.

Mukoyi and his group claimed they had seized control of Harvest House and removed party leader Douglas Mwonzora, accusing him of mismanaging the organisation.

However, in a statement, the MDC accused Mukoyi of acting treacherously by orchestrating the takeover of its offices. The statement reads:

“The President of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Senator Douglas Togaraseyi Mwonzora, has, with immediate effect, withdrawn the appointment of Mr Stewart Shakespeare Mukoyi as Secretary for Defence.

“This decision follows a pattern of treacherous, criminal, and deeply regrettable conduct by Mr Mukoyi, which has brought the party into disrepute.

“His actions have included the glorification of militant, unlawful, and violent takeovers, behaviour that stands in direct contradiction to the core values of the MDC.

“Ours is a democratic movement that aspires to assume state power through peaceful, constitutional, and lawful means.

“We condemn in the strongest terms any acts that undermine that vision.”

The MDC, under Douglas Mwonzora, took control of Harvest House in 2020 from the MDC Alliance, then led by Nelson Chamisa, amid intense party infighting. Reads the statement:

“Mr Mukoyi and his associates have gone further to engage in acts of lawlessness, including the extortion of party funds, violent conduct, and the illegal occupation of party premises.

“These acts are not only in violation of party rules but also of the national laws of Zimbabwe.

“Let it be known that any individual or entity that chooses to associate with Mr Mukoyi and his co-conspirators does so at their own peril.

“Their actions are not only unconstitutional but are also in contempt of court, as the matter regarding the illegal occupation of MRT House is currently before the courts.

“Any attempt to misrepresent legal standing ahead of the court’s decision is a further assault on the rule of law.”

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