Shongedzai Mugwagwa

The 55-year old MDC Sesame District (Gokwe) Organising Secretary, Elias Mashavira has come out guns blazing today challenging Nelson Chamisa to drop tendencies of double standards and let the party hold an extra-ordinary congress as directed by the High Court judgement.

In an interview with the newzimbabwe.com which was live streamed on facebook, Mashavira said that Chamisa was a trained Advocate who should respect High Court judgements.

Last week, the High Court gave a judgement which nullified and delegitimized the presidency of Chamisa as the substantive leader of the MDC after the death of Morgan Tsvangirai.

In his interview, Mashavira said that Chamisa was not sincere and had been acting to fast track the issue because he knew what he did was wrong.

“The way Mr Chamisa was going around the country decimating and crushing the 2014 structures exposed his shenanigans.

“According to the party constitution, which is so clear, Mr Chamisa should have caused for the calling of an extra-ordinary congress without even holding those unnecessary meetings that catapulted him to the top post that never was,” he said.

Mashavira petitioned the High Court seeking an order declaring that Nelson Chamisa is not the acting president or president of the opposition party.

In his founding affidavit filed alongside the court application on September 24 2018, he sought another order to direct that an extraordinary congress be held within 60 days to elect the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s successor according to the party’s constitution.

The High Court in their last week judgement which came as a heavy blow to Chamisa, ordered that an extra-ordinary congress be held within a month.

Mashavira said that he did not have any personal vendettas with Chamisa as the party leader but all he was compelling the leadership to do is to follow the constitution.

“I don’t have any problems with Chamisa leading the party but l feel that as an officer of law, he should respect the constitution,” he said.

He further refuted claims that he has been paid by Zanu PF to cause confusion in the opposition party.

“I know there are elements who are saying that l was paid to cause confusion. Let me take this opportunity to tell the people that l am not being paid by anyone but pushed by the love for the party which we sacrificed a lot for,” he added.

Mashavira said that Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe should all give the party a chance for survival by allowing an extra-ordinary congress to be convened.

“I don’t care who will come out as the victor but we need this to happen and allow the party to pave way together,” he added.