MDC-Alliance faces a potential split, with party leader Mr
Nelson Chamisa set to preside over two high-level meetings today in a drive to
have his deputy, Mr Elias Mudzuri, expelled. At least 220 party districts are
said to have resolved to have Mr Mudzuri fired ahead of next year’s party
congress for harbouring presidential ambitions.
This comes in the wake of reports that MDC-Alliance’s
deputy treasurer and Kuwadzana East Member of Parliament Mr Chalton Hwende had
allegedly threatened to shoot party secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora.
Mr Hwende, a Chamisa ally, was reportedly miffed by Mr
Mwonzora’s declaration that Mr Chamisa could be challenged at the party’s
congress next year. Mr Hwende could not be reached on his mobile phone for
comment last night.
Mr Mwonzora said he could not recall such an incident. Party
sources said Mr Hwende openly threatened to shoot Mr Mwonzora for “derailing”
Mr Chamisa. Mr Chamisa has been accused in the past of using the notorious
militia, the Vanguard, to silence his opponents.
Another allegation against Mr Mudzuri is that he attended a
function at State House without Mr Chamisa’s “consent”. He survived expulsion
last week after he failed to attend a standing committee meeting for
unexplained reasons.
‘‘It is end of the road for (Mr) Mudzuri,’’ a source said.
‘‘The president (Mr Chamisa) is going for broke and the process of eliminating
his rivals has begun in earnest. (Mr) Mudzuri is the first target and (Mr)
Mwonzora is likely to follow. Remember (Mr) Hwende threatened to kill (Mr)
Mwonzora and it is becoming clear that the Chamisa camp is worried about the
inroads that (Mr) Mwonzora has been making in the race for the party’s top
job.’’
Another source said Mr Mudzuri was being used as a warning
to Mr Chamisa’s potential rivals.
‘‘This is not so much about (Mr) Mudzuri but (Mr) Mwonzora
and those who are secretly canvassing for support at next year’s congress,”
said the source. ‘‘You should know that (Mr) Chamisa has never really
considered (Mr) Mudzuri as a threat but (Mr) Mwonzora. So what we are seeing is
(Mr) Chamisa firing warning shots at the likes of (Mr) Mwonzora.’
Today’s meetings, one for the national executive and the
other for the national council, will be held at the party’s Harvest House
headquarters.
The fissures in the opposition are in sharp contrast to the
ruling Zanu-PF which is holding its 17th Annual People’s Conference at
Mzingwane High School in Esigodini, Matabeleland South, with a heightened unity
of purpose.
President Mnangagwa has said the ruling party’s conference
will focus on the country’s new investment trajectory towards attainment of his
vision to turn Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy by 2030.
Party organs have already endorsed President Mnangagwa as
the party’s candidate for the 2023 polls to ensure leadership stability and
policy consistency.
In the opposition camp, Mr Mwonzora and allies have
indicated they want congress held in February next year but Mr Chamisa and his
camp insist that it should take place later in October.
Sources in the opposition said Mr Mudzuri’s fate in the
party was sealed when he recently accompanied Parliament’s presiding officers
to State House where they met President Mnangagwa. This was against a standing
party directive not to recognise the Head of State and Government.
Mr Mudzuri, as leader of opposition party in the Senate,
accompanied Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda and Senate
President Mabel Chinomona when they went to formally introduce themselves soon
after their election.
“The issue of (Mr) Mudzuri is definitely coming up for
discussion in our meeting tomorrow (today). We have a national executive and a
national council meeting. Decisive action has to be taken. At least 220
districts have resolved that he be fired. They expressed a vote of no
confidence in him. What is likely going to happen is that he will either be
fired on the basis of a no confidence vote or we will constitute a disciplinary
tribunal,” said the source.
“Either way you look at it, (Mr) Mudzuri is gone. In fact,
he expelled himself by defying the party directive.”
Another source said Mr Mudzuri could be stripped of the
vice-presidency. “We are exploring various options. One is to expel him.
Another one would be to weaken him by demoting him to an ordinary card-carrying
member,” said the source.
Mr Mudzuri declined to comment yesterday saying he was in a
meeting. Party spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume confirmed that there
would be a national executive and national council meeting today but sought to
play down the Mudzuri issue.
“Yes, there will be national executive and national council
meetings tomorrow (today). (They) will focus on the deteriorating economy.
Those issues you are asking me about, there are processes that are provided for
by the constitution. We are a big organisation and there will always be
sentiments against leaders but at the end of the day as a party we follow what
the constitution provides,” said Mr Mafume. Herald
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