Jasper Hloka
Details of nasty scenes that decorated the MDC’s recent elective congress continue to emerge as that party’s out-going Deputy National Chairperson, Tendai Biti, confronted his boss, Nelson Chamisa over his attempt to influence the election of Provincial Chairpersons and elbow him out.
An MDC’s National Council member who spoke on condition of anonymity indicated that Chamisa and Biti are on a collision course as their dislike for each other played out in the open at that party’s congress. The MDC bigwig said that “Chamisa’s quest to dominate and influence the election of Provincial heads as was the case in the run up to congress ruffled more feathers as other senior members felt trampled upon and shut out.”
He added that there was to be a further twist of fate for Chamisa’s shenanigans as Biti got wind of the rumours that his boss was canvassing delegates not to vote him before indicating that he is not to be trusted as he once broke away from that party.
“Frothy Biti approached Chamisa demanding to know why he (Chamisa) disliked him so much despite the personal favours he had done for him. Biti let the cat out of the bag when he divulged that he had bought Chamisa a vehicle and upgraded his personal and home security,” said the MDC’s National Council member.
The development does not bode well for Chamisa as an impression is created that the democratic path is proving too difficult to tow for the opposition leader as he attempts to navigate towards absolute control of the MDC. According to the bigwig, things will never be the same again between Biti and Chamisa given the fallout. He added that the congress gave birth to a divided presidium and a mammoth task for Chamisa who is to find means of consoling and accommodating fallen stalwarts of that party.
The National Council member remarked that “even though the congress is over, Chamisa is not yet out of the woods as indications on the ground are that the diplomatic community and the international world are rallying behind Biti ahead of Chamisa. Chamisa is aware of this, no wonder the reports of ballot staffing and bussing of delegates to the congress by his lieutenants who wished to overturn Biti’s growing and significant influence in the MDC.”
