By Gift Mashoko
As the MDC’s make or break elective congress draws closer, the battle for the party’s top job heats up.
Contrary to speculations that the party’s acting President, Nelson Chamisa enjoys universal support across the country; the situation on the ground reveals that some significant pockets are likely to nominate the party’s Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora for the presidency.
Sources within the Chamisa faction confided in this publication that Chamisa is losing ground in Bulawayo Province. The source said that at a caucus meeting held last Friday in Bulawayo by pro-Chamisa members, only seven out of 29 wards turned up.
“We had a caucus meeting at Niss Finance CourtYart last week. It was embarrassing. Only seven out of the expected 29 wards which were expected turned up. Matson Hlalo and James Sithole admitted that Mwonzora was enjoying more support in Bulawayo especially in Lobengula, Entumbane and Emakhandeni District Assemblies,” he said.
Sithole is the party’s Provincial Organising Secretary whilst Hlalo is an aspiring Provincial Chair. Both are pro Chamisa.
Sithole reportedly said 85% of the branch congresses were completed with indications that Mwonzora was dominating. The warring factions have been holding separate congresses in several wards of Bulawayo.
Mwonzora’s faction in Bulawayo is being headed by incumbent Provincial Chairperson, Gift Banda. Banda is being accused by pro Chamisa faction of rigging branch congresses.
Apart from Hlalo who declared interest in the Provincial Chairman’s post, Sithole has also shown interest in the same position although he indicated that he might settle for organising secretary’s post which Collect Ndhlovu is also vying for. Ernest Rafemoyo the councillor for Ward 20 is vying for the Provincial Assembly Secretary position whilst Sonny Phiri angling for the Provincial Treasurers position. Tinashe Kambarami is targeting the Provincial Youth Assembly Chairperson’s post.
The upcoming MDC National congress is dividing the party with Mwonzora and MDC Vice President Elias Mudzuri showing interests in the party’s top post which Chamisa is ring-fencing. The ringfencing of the presidency has raised issues of democracy in the party which claims to be the champion and defender of same.
