via MDC-T prepares for early congress March 16, 2014 by Patrice Makova Zimbabwe Standard
MDC-T has started preparations for an early congress meant to address serious leadership fights rocking the party, officials have confirmed.
Jostling has already begun with different factions in the party positioning their members for influential posts.
MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora last week confirmed that the national council, the party’s highest decision making body between congresses, finally agreed to hold an early congress in 2015 instead of the scheduled 2016.
“An early congress will ensure that we are prepared for the 2018 elections. It will make the party stronger and more united,” he said.
Mwonzora said as preparations for the early congress begin, a “massive” restructuring of all the party’s structures was set to begin to fill vacant posts so that there were no gaps from branches to national level.
He said once the restructuring exercise was concluded, the early congresses would begin at branch, district and then provincial levels.
Mwonzora said actual dates for the early national congress would be determined by the manner the smaller congresses progressed.
The MDC-T spokesperson dispelled fears that the restructuring exercise and lower-level congress would be used to eliminate dissenting voices, including officials linked to deputy treasurer-general, Elton Mangoma.
The deputy treasurer general was recently suspended for calling on Tsvangirai to resign.
“MDC officials should not be afraid of the people,” Mwonzora said in reference to the impending lower level congresses. “It is them who said we should go for an early congress, but now they are afraid to go to the people.”
He said MDC founding members, among them Job Sikhala, Joubert Mudzumwe and Edward Mkhosi who re-joined the Tsvangirai-led formation, were free to contest any position.
However, on the issue of Mangoma who has indicated his intention to challenge Tsvangirai, Mwonzora said the deputy treasurer general could only do that on condition that the disciplinary committee cleared him.
In the event that he is found guilty of charges he is facing, among them putting the name of the party into disrepute, Mwonzora said, Mangoma was entitled to appeal to congress.
Sources said Tsvangirai was unlikely to face any serious challenge as he still enjoyed grassroots support.
His deputy Thokozani Khupe is also expected to sail through, while national chairman Love-more Moyo was expected to retain his position.
Organising secretary, Nelson Chamisa is said to be eyeing the post of secretary-general currently held by Tendai Biti. The incumbent secretary-general is said to belong to a faction calling for leadership renewal in the party.
Biti recently came out in support of Mangoma after his suspension which he described as unconstitutional and therefore null and void.
The MDC-T sources said Tapiwa Mashakada is tipped to retain the deputy secretary-general’s post.
Former Zanu PF Marondera legislator, Tracey Mutinhiri is tipped to take over as women’s assembly boss from Theresa Makone.
Lawyer and Chikanga-Dangamvura legislator, Arnold Tsunga, who is said to be amenable to both factions in the MDC-T, is tipped to contest the treasurer-general’s post currently held by Roy Bennett.
Clifford Hlatywayo is gunning for the Youth Assembly chairman’s position, with civil society activist, Lovemore Chinoputsa said to be eyeing the post of secretary general.
Cracks within the MDC-T have been widening since the July elections which Zanu PF won by over two thirds majority, with President Robert Mugabe garnering 61% votes compared to Tsvangirai’s 33%.
COMMENTS
“I LEARNT MY LESSON WELL” SAYS ON OLD SONG! NO IMPOSTION OF CANDIDATES THIS TIME, MR PARTY PRES!
ETHNIC BALANCE!
choose those that are best equipped to take the fight to zanu , not those that are already in zanu camp….
Just like zanu, ON PAPER it looks democratic, but when it comes to the real deal, there will be vote buying and manipulation of the process.
The better way was to have the leadership in one room for a weekend debating, then election.
But hey, who am I .
I WILL JUST WAIT FOR THE CHAOS, AND THE END RESULTS WILL be The SAME.
More Zanuism. Yawn.
MDC, like the rest of Zimbabwe is not reaching for Democracy…Elton Mangoma did what should be done as a matter of routine in a genuinely democratic organisation. He asked whether, given the situation, an internal inspection – starting with the leader, should be the way to move forward. That this earned him a suspension shows exactly why MDC has failed to win this country. THEY DO NOT EMBRACE DEMOCRACY…..and what’s more they do not want it. They want to swop ZANU for MDC, chete.
Zanu PF will be congratulating themselves on the decline and collapse of the MDC. However what they are really celebrating the stifling and demise of democracy in Zimbabwe at the hands of Mr Mugabe’s “war machine”. No-one will thank them for this.
As Gomogranny says; we need to reach for Democracy. That is – the voice of the people be heard and be given weight.
That the pain of the 5000 mothers whose babies died in childbirth in Harare this month is not swept aside, but is addressed by spending money on hospital and health facilities and on salaries for health personnel.
When a new leadership arises in Zimbabwe, a leadership that genuinely puts people first – then we will have our start on the road to democracy.
Grass roots support rubbish, gukurahundi Tsvangirayi!!!!!!!
How can Tsvangirayi allow Job Sikala, Tracy Mutinihiri and any of the others to contest any position in the MDC? It is against the party Constitution. Section 5.5.2 “A person will have served the following period before he/she is allowed to hold the following office.” a, Two before being eligible years to hold District office b, Five years before he/she can hold office in the Provincial or the sit on the National Council or contest to be Mayor or MP. I suppose that just as the Executive Committee has done in the Mangoma case, the MDC Constitution will be thrown out the window and the Executive will impose rules. Tsvangirayi and sidekick Chamisa are becoming more like Mugabe every day.
Maybe Tsvangirayi, Moyo and Chamisa have never bothered to read the constitution as they seem to be in ignorance of it.
Hi guys Tsvangirayi does make decision the National council which includes Biti chamisa tsvangirai just to mention a few does decide if tsvangirai vetoes the Nat council he becomes a dictator so why tsvangirayi
National Council supposed to be decision making body. the issue of an early Congress was definitely not discussed at the last NC meeting. Mwonzora is incorrect if he says NC has agreed to it.
Those who want Tsvangi out are panicking Congress is Coming the grssroots are going to kick them out they dont want that Congress nw.