By Christopher Makaza
Troubled MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa is reportedly losing support of some party provincial structures, particularly in Manicaland, Masvingo, Bulawayo and Harare provinces due to his dictatorial tendencies, Harare Post has established.
A contact within the opposition political party revealed that Chamisa lost favour in Manicaland, following his involvement in the rigging of the provincial congress in favour of the current Provincial Assembly Chairperson, Prosper Mutsayami.
The contact revealed that former Provincial Chairman, David Chimhini commanded more support within party circles and was popular among grass root structures. He said it is because of that, that most of his loyalists have resorted to be back benchers and are no longer actively participating in party programmes.
Political analyst, Mr Stewart Mwanza said Chimhini could have been sidelined by Chamisa mainly because of his loyalty to that party`s Deputy Secretary for International Affairs, Douglas Mwonzora, who had initially wanted to challenge Chamisa for the presidency prior to the Gweru elective congress.
The party`s structures in Masvingo province, according to the contact were also not happy with the manner in which Provincial Assembly Chairperson, James Gumbi was being treated by Chamisa.
“Chamisa disliked Gumbi, despite him being Provincial Assembly Chairperson who was in touch with the party`s grass root structures. Former Provincial Assembly Secretary, Tongai Matutu`s followers also felt that he was being sidelined by Chamisa. So this means that Chamisa is creating more enemies almost everyday.
“In Bulawayo Province, the situation is just the same where the Ndebele people view that Chamisa rigged elections in favour of Shona Councillors. The Ndebele party members always complain that they are being sidelined from party programmes by their Shona counterparts,” revealed the contact.
Mr Musona noted that Chamisa`s unpopularity in Bulawayo might have been caused by Biti during his campaign in the run up to the MDC 5th National congress as the later is slowly becoming a threat to the former in terms of popularity.
Chamisa was also being accused of influencing the Harare provincial congress in favour of Provincial Assembly Chairman, Wellington Chikomba.
