via MDC-T polls: Chamisa bags six provinces 01 October 2014
MDC-T secretary general aspirant Nelson Chamisa bagged his sixth straight party provincial nomination on Wednesday evening with a convincing defeat of Douglas Mwonzora, his main challenger to the influential post.
“Chamisa ahwina zvine mutsindo chaizvo ne 169 against Mwonzora anga aine 60 (Chamisa won with a landslide, garnering 169 votes against 60 for Mwonzora),” a senior party official told Newzimbabwe.com via phone in Midlands.
However, the Midlands matched other provincial outcomes which have kept faith in Morgan Tsvangirai’s leadership, his deputy Thokozani Khupe and national chairperson, Lovemore Moyo.
Earlier on, Chamisa had bagged two more provinces to bring the number of provincial endorsements to five, later to become six after Midlands North. These are Harare, Chitungwiza, Masvingo, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East.
But Mwonzora, in an interview with the state media, saw more than just a contest for a powerful party position when he alleged Chamisa, who is current organising secretary, was using his position to influence the vote in his favour.
“I realise how unfortunate Dougie’s situation is. He is facing some challenges,” he said. “It is a clean sweep so far. The process is a result of voting by provincial councils.”
The former ICT minister said the MDC-T provincial councils comprised all district and ward representatives in the province and was being presided over by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and two other civic groups which acted as an independent electoral panel.
Reached for comment, Mwonzora also attributed the defeat to his current court battles where he is fighting to clear his name from 2011 public violence charges against Zanu PF supporters.
“As you know the nominations started during my prosecution and l could not attend some of them,” he said.
“In the last congress, l had fewer nominations than the person l went on to beat in the elections. I will definitely win this one.”
The former Nyanga North legislator is currently on trial on public violence charges, together with over 20 party activists.
“This is a competition and therefore we don’t take it personally. We work together quite well. I wish him the best and l am sure he wishes me the best as well,” he said.
Nine provinces including the external ones such as South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America are yet to make their nominations.
So far, the secretary general’s post, a powerful position left vacant by MDC Renewal Team leader Tendai Biti, has been the highlight of current MDC-T nominations.
This has been so because the other top party office bearers seem to have virtually kept their positions as they are unchallenged.
COMMENTS
DOUGLAS FOR SG! MAT PROVINCES HOLD THE KEY!
Chamisa anohwinha zvine mutsindo. Chamisa for SG. The boy has brains.
Chmisa Nelson to be the MDC-T secretary.We do love other contestants but this post be given to Chamisa through a democratic process. Go Chamisa go!By virtue of being a brave, steady ,composed, focused,competetive to the last men and a great leader from the platform of leadership.God bless your general secretary role in MDC-T FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ZIMBABWE.
Chamisa Nelson to be the MDC-T secretary.We do love other contestants but this post be given to Chamisa through a democratic process. Go Chamisa go!By virtue of being a brave, steady ,composed, focused,competetive to the last men and a great leader from the platform of leadership since THE Chitungwiza SPRING OF DEMOCRACY.God bless your general secretary role in MDC-T FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ZIMBABWE.
SG Nelson Chamisa!