Chamisa to stand uncontested at congress

Published: 24 April 2019

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is on the brink of getting his 13th nomination to retain his position at the party's elective congress next month.

Chamisa now has 12 nominations and if he gets the nod from the province of South Africa at the weekend, he will stand uncontested at congress.

Fireworks were expected at the MDC congress to run from May 24 and 25 after the party's deputy president Elias Mudzuri and secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora made known their intention to contest Chamisa for the top post.

However, the 12 provinces that have submitted their nominations so far have shut the door on Mudzuri and Mwonzora, who are now under pressure to retain their positions in order to remain relevant in the party.

MDC organising secretary Amos Chibaya told the Daily News yesterday that after the South African provincial congress on Saturday, campaigns for the posts of vice president and below will begin in earnest.
"We are almost done with the provincial congresses and we are happy with the progress so far. We await what comes out in South Africa and from there we will be going to the next stage and possibly that is when campaigns will start," Chibaya said adding that "if no one else is nominated for president on the 27th then there will be no election and congress will confirm that there is no contest".

Last week, Chamisa made it 12 out of 12 after he got another nomination from the United Kingdom Province
Should Chamisa go on to secure nomination by South Africa as is widely expected now, all the attention will now shift to the race for his three deputies among eight hopefuls.
Those vying to deputise him are current VPs Morgen Komichi, Welshman Ncube and Mudzuri.

The triumvirate will battle it out with other party bigwigs who include former Finance minister Tendai Biti, Lillian Timveos, Lynnet Karenyi Kore, Paurina Mpariwa and former Zanu-PF MP Tracy Mutinhiri who have all secured a nomination or two.

Mwonzora, who recently threw in the towel and put his weight behind Chamisa while he settled for the position of secretarygeneral, will face a battle of monumental proportions against Charlton Hwende and Daniel Molekeli.

Another huge fight is expected on the position of national youth assembly chairperson where current secretary-general Lovemore Chinoputsa is set to battle it out with Obey Sithole, a former student leader with the Zimbabwe National Students' Union (Zinasu).

Last week, Chamisa allayed fears that his rivals were facing a knight of long knives soon after congress confirms him as leader saying he will not purge anyone but will deploy them to influential positions, to strengthen the party.

Chamisa, speaking after grabbing his 12th nomination from the UK province, said congress was not a game of winners and losers.

He said there was need to consolidate the party and swim together with losers in building the movement.

"Our emphasis is unity, our emphasis is inclusive politics, but also dynamic renewal and regeneration of the organisation, democracy is not about winners and losers, it is a win-win platform so nobody will be left behind," he said.
- dailynews

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