Political Reporter
The opposition MDC Alliance is struggling to restructure its party structures across the country as members continue to lose interest in the once vibrant opposition movement.
A source privy to the details confided in this publication that it had become a daunting task to have fully constituted structures as members are no longer attending that party’s restructuring meetings.
“The party is failing to establish fully constituted structures across the country. People are no longer as enthusiastic about occupying party positions as before. What is worrying is that the party is failing to restructure in its strongholds such as Masvingo urban constituency, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South and North Provinces,” said the source.
He said the party had failed to restructure in Masvingo urban and was now afraid of losing the impending by elections to be held in Wards three, four, five and seven.
The source added that the party failed to restructure in Matebeleland North Province where 297 out of 873 branches were restructured as people shunned several restructuring meetings.
Factionalism currently bedeviling that party was cited by the source for the chaos in the restructuring exercise as people are now viewing the MDC Alliance as a sinking ship. The party is sharply divided into two formations with one group fighting in Nelson Chamisa’s corner, while the other group known as the Maruva/Kensington cabal is calling for reshuffling in that party’s top echelon.
Meanwhile, the MDC Alliance was urging people to purchase party cards as they would qualify them to hold positions in the party. However, members are reportedly not purchasing the party card and this has increased the financial quandary in that party as funds from donors have dried up due to abuse of funds as well as continuous infighting being experienced in that party.
Currently, the party cards are being sold for US$7, 10, 15, 20 and 25 for members of the branch, district, province, national and legislators respectively. However, members are reportedly complaining that the cards are expensive and they should not be arm twisted to purchase them.
This is not the first time that the MDC Alliance has faced difficulties in trying to revamp the party structures. Last year, members boycotted the restructuring exercises as they were protesting against the abolishment of the Ward Executive Committees.
