VULTURES in the MDC-T led by Nelson Chamisa have reportedly
started plotting to topple him ahead of the opposition party’s elective
congress next year.
Highly-placed sources said there was a group of insiders
who felt hard done by the MDC Alliance, which saw them losing power to party
returnees, especially Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube and would want to push out
Chamisa so that they reclaim lost power.
Those against Chamisa are already proposing party
secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora as their candidate ahead of the 2019
congress to elect a leader following the death of founding leader Morgan
Tsvangirai in February this year.
“The plan is premised on two pillars, one to blame Chamisa
and the alliance for failing to deal with double nominations, which allowed
Zanu PF to get a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and, secondly, to
ramp up pressure on Chamisa by blaming his electoral defeat at the hands of
Zanu PF on his campaign blunders,” the source said.
Those pushing for Mwonzora have already set up social media
accounts pushing his 2019 agenda (It’s Mwonzora’s time), paving way for an
internal bruising battle that could see another split in the party.
Daggers have already been drawn against Mwonzora, forcing
him to take court action against media reports that linked him to the plot to
oust Chamisa.
Chamisa’s backers have, however, said they were prepared to
support him to stay in power and would mobilise the party base to retain him.
Youth secretary for security and Mabvuku incoming
legislator, James Chidhakwa said the youth remained firmly behind Chamisa.
“Democracy will allow people to contest at the 2019
congress. That is what will happen, but make no mistake, for the youth, we are
clear that he remains our choice. He ran a campaign that was second to none,
performed better than all our candidates in all constituencies and won this
election with little funding and overwhelming opposition. It is, therefore,
clear that he is our best foot forward,” Chidhakwa said.
Party spokesperson Tabitha Khumalo said she was unaware of
the jostling or any moves to dethrone Chamisa.
“I have not heard about it and I don’t know about it, so I
can’t comment on that issue,” she said. Mwonzora was not immediately available
for comment as he was said to have left his phone in Harare while he travelled
to the rural areas, but he has since distanced himself from the reported
jostling. “It (links to the ouster of Chamisa) also set up the plaintiff
against his colleagues in the MDC Alliance,” Mwonzora said in summons against
the The Herald. Newsday
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