by Innocent Mujeri
Leader of the MDC Alliance formation, Nelson Chamisa, is reportedly working flat out to attend the MDC T congress that is scheduled between 13 and 20 December.
A source within the MDC Alliance told this publication that Chamisa is clandestinely meeting with the MDC T 2014 structures to convince them to nominate him as the presidential candidate at that party’s forthcoming Extra Ordinary Congress.
“The president (Chamisa) is currently clandestinely meeting with the MDC T’s 2014 structure urging them to nominate him at the forthcoming Extra Ordinary Congress (EOC). The president (Chamisa) is saying no one will bar him from attending the congress as the Supreme Court has ruled that delegates to the congress are those who were in the party’s structures in 2014. As it stands, Chamisa is going to attend and contest at the forthcoming congress but he only wants to make the announcement a few days before the congress,” said the source.
The source went on to say that Chamisa has instructed his MDC Alliance members - who were part of the MDC structures in 2014 - to prepare for the congress, ostensibly to exercise their right to vote granted by the March 31 Supreme Court ruling that ordered the assembly to elect the party president.
The source also said that money is being used to buy the allegiance of the MDC T’s 2014 structures.
“A lot of money is exchanging hands. The president (Chamisa) is not hesitating to pay money to members who are promising to support his candidature at the forthcoming congress. People like Abednico Bhebhe and Paul Gorekore have already received their share of money that’s why they are now turning their back on (Thokozani) Khupe,” added the source.
The same source further confided in this publication that a legal team has been assembled to challenge in court the intended barring of Chamisa to attend the congress.
“There are reports that Chamisa might be barred to attend the congress. These reports have reached the ears of the president (Chamisa) and he has already assembled a legal team led by Thabani Mpofu to challenge this in court. The president (Chamisa) is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that he participates at the congress,” said the source.
As much as Chamisa is working tirelessly to attend the forthcoming congress, the MDC T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has decreed that people who defied the court ruling that Khupe was the acting leader of that party have automatically expelled themselves and would not participate in the congress.
During a press conference this week, Mwonzora advised the Chamisa led faction to formalise their marriage with G40 and do their own things. He said the MDC T would not interfere with their programme.
There are reports that the Chamisa led faction has decided to participate in the elective congress with a view of putting the process in disarray.
Khupe has since formally expelled Chamisa from the MDC T for joining another political party, the MDC Alliance.
