THE MDC congress started slowly in Gweru yesterday, which
it blamed on a spike in transport costs and shortages of fuel.
The congress was supposed to kick off at midday at Ascot
Stadium with a youth and women’s assembly congress, followed by elections of
the two organs.
Delegates were still trickling into the stadium way into
the evening, while the logistics team was setting up the arena.
The delays meant that voting by youth and women assemblies
would now go deep into the night, raising fears of rigging and vote
manipulation.
Lovemore Chinoputsa, who is eying the position of youth
assembly chairperson, said owing to the delays, the youth would have to skip
their mini congress and go straight into voting.
“The youth were supposed to have come in on Thursday and
started their congress early. However, because of fuel shortages, a spike in
transport and accommodation costs, we could not travel in advance, as you see
delegates are still arriving, but we are ready and soon, it will be all systems
go,” he said.
The national executive meeting, scheduled to run
concurrently with the youth and women assembly congress, had yet to start late
in the evening.
Outside the congress venue, delegates gathered in different
groups, campaigning peacefully for their preferred candidates.
There was horse-trading as provincial leaders moved in to
secure votes for candidates from their provinces by pledging to vote in other
positions for their partners.
Song, dance and toyi-toyiing was the order of the day as
rival camps denounced candidates from the other side, while praising their own.
Being hotly contested in the MDC are positions of the three
vice-presidents, women and youth assembly chairpersons, treasurer-general and
vice-chairmanship.
Candidates running for those positions fear that a loss
could spell doom for their political careers.
Tendai Biti faces off against Welshman Ncube, Elias Mudzuri
and Morgan Komichi for the VP posts.
Between Biti, Mudzuri, Komichi and Ncube, two giants will
fall and possibly create problems for party leader Nelson Chamisa.
Lilian Timveos faces a stern challenge from Lynette
Karenyi-Kore, whose campaign appeared well funded and co-ordinated, while
former Zanu PF MP Tracy Mutinhiri remains with an outside chance.
Despite the heated rivalry, all camps were united in
singing praise for president-designate, Chamisa. Newsday
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