MDC will spend close to $2 million on 6 000 delegates who
will attend a crunching May 24 electoral congress in Gweru as the party seeks
to chart a new way forward following the death of its founding President Morgan
Tsvangirai.
The congress, which will either make or break the MDC, will
most likely confirm Nelson Chamisa as new party president after the youthful
leader managed to bag 12 nominations from 12 provincial congresses held so far.
One province, South Africa, is still outstanding.
Other political players will still face cliff hanger fights
as they battle to remain politically relevant in the party and country as
battle lines have already been drawn on the influential positions of
vice-presidents, secretary-general, treasurer general and spokesperson with
party heavy weights set to trade pound for pound.
Chamisa confirmed that 6 000 delegates will decide the fate
of close to 30 party stalwarts who are looking to find place in the 10 member
standing committee directly elected at congress.
“We have a membership of over a million people, but as we
go for congress we will only have 6 000 delegates attending in a representative
capacity, but we want to ensure that the leaders are acceptable not just to our
members of the 6 000 delegate, but also to the general populace. This is why we
are opening a campaign season in the form on town hall meetings,” said Chamisa.
Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume could not confirm the
actual figures the party will have to mobilise for its congress, but said it
will run into millions.
“Treasury is working on the figures, but we can’t even
conclusively say how much will be used because prices are changing on a daily
bases and, therefore, it becomes difficult to say, but it will run into
millions,” he said.
The party, which is struggling financially, said it will
largely rely on its members and other well-wishers to fund the congress.
“We have to rely on our members and well-wishers,
especially seeing that government is withholding our share from the Political
Parties Finance Act, we have not been given our money so we will find
alternative ways,” Mafume said. Newsday
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