Shongedzai Mugwagwa
As MDC supporters were warming up to their late founding leader, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai`s memorial service on 14 February, the Harare Post has learnt that Nelson Chamisa nicodemously influenced the Tsvangirai family to postpone the event to 4 May over unclear reasons.
Investigations carried out by the Harare Post reveal that Chamisa approached the Tsvangirai family with a request for a postponement of the ceremony amid reports that there was a plot to embarrass him at the service.
Sources told the Harare Post that Masvingo Province, which is spearheading the rejection of Chamisa at the October Congress, had schemed to shame Chamisa at Tsvangirai’s commemorative service. Apparently, the Tsvangirai family, the late leader’s mother in particular, is not very fond of Chamisa. She threatened to commit suicide if Chamisa, who had grabbed power while the late Tsvangirai was still on death bed, stepped his foot on the funeral in February last year.
“There was a meeting here which resolved that Chamisa should now desist from keeping people in election mode. Masvingo believes that Chamisa lost the election and he should strategize for the next election rather than keep on inviting agony for the ordinary citizens through the kudira jecha strategy,” said a member of the Masvingo Provincial Assembly who asked for anonymity.
The Harare Post can reveal that Chamisa pushed for the postponement of the memorial service so as to give himself time to deal with the rebels. Chamisa’s axe is targeting his deputy, Engineer Elias Mudzuri whom he suspects of engineering the rebellion.
Sources revealed that Masvingo Province is backing the candidature of Mudzuri for the top job while Manicaland is backing the Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora. Other provinces that are opposing Chamisa’s bid for the presidency are Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East.
“Chamisa does not want to accept that he lost elections but rather wants to keep holding onto power whilst, as a country, we need to move forward and we need to go back to the drawing board as a party. Very soon it will be 2023 before we realise it and without any preparations for the elections.
“If our leadership wants to be an alternative party, they should give others a chance because it was evident we lost because of commissions and omissions done by our party leadership. We should move out of the election mode,” fumed one member of the Masvingo District Assembly top ranking member.
Meanwhile, because of fear of the unknown that awaits him in Buhera, Chamisa has attacked the Tsvangirai family for inviting President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other political parties leadership to the memorial service.
Tsvangirai family spokesperson, Manase Tsvangirai fumed over the decision by MDC leadership to move the memorial service dates to May. He said the on-going tussle over Tsvangirai’s memorial service is a “betrayal and a negation of what Tsvangirai stood for” and added that the service would be for both Tsvangirai’s friends and those who were perceived as not close to him.
