7,000 to attend MDC-T congress, Chamisa

via 7,000 to attend MDC-T congress, Chamisa 23/10/2014

MORE than 7,000 delegates are expected to attend the opposition MDC-T’s elective congress next weekend with organising secretary Nelson Chamisa saying the gathering would set in motion a process for Zimbabweans to claim their victory.

The congress comes at a time the party has been weakened by its poor showing in last year’s elections which leader Morgan Tsvangirai insists were rigged by President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party.

A group disenchanted with Tsvangirai’s leadership has since left after he refused to resign while financial support from traditional supporters has also been cut over concerns the party had lost focus and no longer represented the best option for removing Zanu PF from power.

But in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, Chamisa said the MDC-T was looking forward to a successful congress that would give delegates an opportunity to reflect on issues that can help take the party forward.

“We are building our party, it’s time to converge, time to reclaim victory of the people, time to rebuild and make it more vibrant and the only alternative in the country and for the betterment of Zimbabweans,” he said.

The MDC-T’s woeful financial situation has impacted congress preparations with the party unable to organise meetings for its youth and women’s wings.

“Funding is always an issue that you will never say it’s enough but we are looking forward to a very successfully programme and congress.

“But remember we did not receive our political party funding quota from the government as required by the Political Parties Finance Act and other traditional donors.”

The party says it decided to hold a single congress after it emerged that there wasn’t enough time for women and youths to have their separate congresses.

The congress was supposed to be held in 2016 which could have meant more time to prepare but divisions that saw the departure of secretary general Tendai Biti and several other senior officials forced the party to bring the gathering forward.

Chamisa said Biti and other members of the breakaway Renewal Team had not been invited “as they have already cut ties with their comrades in the struggle for change and a democratic Zimbabwe”.

He added: “We have not invited Biti and his oranges”.

All positions in the party’s national leadership are up for grabs although Tsvangirai has not been challenged.