MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is two nominations away from
clinching an uncontested presidency at the May 24 congress when the party meets
to elect a new leadership, including a substantive replacement of its late
president Morgan Tsvangirai.
Jettisoned into the presidency through a disputed national
council resolution to complete the term of the late Tsvangirai and stand as the
party presidential candidate in the 2018 general elections, Chamisa is looking
to be handed his own term by congress.
Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Chamisa had received
11 out of 11 nominations so far concluded, with an expectation that South
Africa and the United Kingdom provinces would have concluded their congresses
in the next two days.
“The party has completed 11 provincial congresses, where
delegates elected provincial leaders and submitted their nominations for
standing committee positions.
President Chamisa has received 11 nominations so far. There
have been massive nominations for vice-presidents and fierce contests in other
positions,” Mafume said.
Ten posts are up for grabs at the congress with Chamisa
appearing to be the only person who looks safe going into congress as the party
will not allow nominations from the floor.
Mafume said while congress could decide to accept
nominations from the floor, it was highly unlikely and compelling reasons would
be needed for such proposals to be accepted.
“Congress is the decision-making body and it can decide to
accept nominations from the floor, but the rules dictate that delegates at
congress should know the candidates in advance. There is no need to ambush
delegates and therefore there should be compelling reasons for such a move,” he
said.
Party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora is on the verge of
losing the powerful position he holds and could revert to an ordinary
card-carrying member after receiving only one nomination in a process he has
described as unfair.
Mwonzora has since raised complaints with the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general Japhet Moyo, but says he has
received no joy.
MDC hit back saying Mwonzora was being insincere and acting
in bad faith because he was the one responsible for convening congress.
“Mwonzora is our secretary-general, and it is his office
that sends out the notice of congress. He is given the powers to superintend
over congress together with other leaders. Surely, he is aware that he set the
rules of the game. In any event, if there were any genuine issues, he is aware
as one of the leaders of the party, of channels and appropriate forums to raise
his complaints,” Mafume said. Standard
0 comments:
Post a Comment