via Tsvangirai goes the Zanu PF way – NewsDay Zimbabwe July 22, 2014 by Moses Matenga
THE opposition MDC-T, in a move reminiscent of the Zanu PF organogram, is reportedly planning to elevate its leader Morgan Tsvangirai to president and first secretary of the party to ensure he has firm control of the party.
President Robert Mugabe has been both Zanu PF president and secretary since the 1970s.
MDC-T insiders said the new post was among a raft of other proposed constitutional changes likely to guide the party’s elective congress to be held in October this year.
“The real issue is to silence and remove powers from the secretary-general [SG] given what has happened in the past. There are still consultations over that, but the likelihood is that Tsvangirai will have to take the responsibility of the party’s day-to-day operations as president and first secretary like what [Zanu PF leader President Robert] Mugabe is to Zanu PF,” said an MDC-T source.
“What Tsvangirai and his loyalists are saying is that under the current constitution, the SG’s post was competing with that of the president. They see this as the reason for some sort of stability in Zanu PF because they used to have the same problem during the days of Edgar Tekere as secretary-general,” the source said.
But party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the matter was still under discussion and the congress would follow what would have been agreed and factored into the amended constitution.
Mwonzora yesterday said the party was yet to receive nominations ahead of congress adding that the system this time would see people nominating their preferred choices.
Sources said Tsvangirai, who has survived two rebellions from his secretary generals – Welshman Ncube in 2005 and Tendai Biti this year – wanted all administrative powers to be centred around him just as Mugabe has done in Zanu PF.
Said Mwonzora: “Nominations are yet to come to us and so far we don’t
know. The system will be different from the last ones where individuals expressed desires to contest. Now its nomination-based, meaning a person has to be nominated for a post.”
He added that the secretary-general would, however, remain powerful though with his job description and terms of reference clearly spelt out to avoid clashes with the party president.
“We want to remove vagueness and ensure that the secretary-general is not a co-president like what was happening. There are people who are confusing what they want and what will happen. The amendments will be debated fully and finalised,” Mwonzora said.
On proposals to introduce two vice-presidents, Mwonzora said party officials were still not yet agreed over the matter.
“That will depend on what people want. There are two arguments, the first is to align the constitution to that of the country and the second is to continue with one VP, the two will be debated,” Mwonzora said.
On other positions not to be elected at congress, the former Nyanga North MP said: “That has always been the case that the Standing Committee is elected at congress and other posts are appointed by National Council and the president. That is continuing for those positions unless there is a constitutional change. The proposals will be tabled.
“We might have the secretary-general not directly elected at congress unlike the other years if proposals brought are anything to go by.”
As a result of the proposed sweeping constitutional changes, dozens of senior party leaders who were eyeing the secretary-general’s post were now reportedly eyeing the second vice-presidency.
Sources said current MDC-T organising secretary Nelson Chamisa, spokesperson Mwonzora and vice-chairperson Morgen Komichi were among party officials eyeing the post of second vice-president while Thokozani Khupe would remain first vice-president.
The sources added that the positions of president, two vice-presidents, chairperson and vice-chairperson, women assembly and youth assembly chairpersons would be contested at congress.
Candidates for the posts of secretary-general, organising secretary, treasurer-general and spokesperson would be selected by the party’s national council or national executive if the proposals are adopted.
Lovemore Moyo is said to be eyeing his chairperson position and was unlikely to be challenged.
Current Women Assembly boss Theresa Makone is believed to be eyeing the treasurer-general position while Charlton Hwende, a known Tsvangirai loyalist, is seeking to deputise her.
Former Labour minister Paurina Mpariwa is reportedly eyeing the Women Assembly post where she is likely to face a stiff challenge from Sibusisiwe Bhuda-Masara the current women’s assembly secretary-general and former Chimanimani MP Lynnette Karenyi.
MDC-T returnee Job Sikhala is being tipped to take over the national organising secretary’s post with former Justice Deputy minister Obert Gutu, Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya and former youth assembly president Thamsanga Mahlangu reportedly interested in the same post.
Harare Central MP Murisi Zwizwai is also said to be eyeing the national organising secretary post.
COMMENTS
Sad to see that one group appears to be no better than the other. When will all these guys start to bring the youth into politics rather then shun them and we are left with these geriatrics that never want change.
Tswangirayi has not gone the ZANU PF way; he has always been ZANU PF. This is why some of us have always been dead-set against him becoming President of our country.
In essence, there wouldnt be any difference in removing Mugabe and replacing him with Tswangirayi. Just a few weeks ago, he told his gullible supporters that he does not intend remaining in the leadership, yet he is busy changing his party constitution and restructuring the party to create another ZANU PF!
Just why these Tswangirayi supporters cant see into the future, that the country is headed for doom with this man is beyond me. We are talking of a younger Mugabe here – I really dont know what should be done to make thse praise singers see the dangers that lie ahead!!
Go on MDC T we are behind you until ZFF out! Anything else is secondary.
@Mahlaba
I pity you. I guess its nice to be young and ignorant, because you have no expectations of the worst, owing to being a laittie born yesterday.
As they say WISDOM comes with AGE; that is why, through experience, the older folks are more calculating than the young, who merely go with the wind of popularism.
Even in South African politics, this youthful idealism now manifests itself in the young politicians of the likes of Mmusi Maimane and Lindiwe Mazibuko of the DA, vigorously defending the pretence of a new South Africa that sees no race or colour, despite the fact that everywhere one looks, it is the blackman who is at the recieving end of the poverty stick.
It is the blackman who fills up the taxi jallopies in the wee hours of the icy cold mornings everyday, in an effort to reach his workplace in time at 8am; after changing the taxis three or four times; whilst the high and low white communities simply jump into their cars and are at work in no time.
Whilst it is your democratic right to back who ever you want, its just an unfortunate and sad reality of life in life that, should your choice triumph and things go awary as to be expected, we all suffer the consequences of your ignorant youthful exhuberance; not withstanding the fact that we always told you so!
@Straight Shooter – In case you can’t see beyond your racist vision Black men are in charge of virtually everything in this country and have placed their brothers in a worst position than ever before. It stands to reason that if 99% of the population are black then the majority of poor people will be black. Duh!
just saying
I dont think you even understood a thing of what I am saying.
Way to go Mahlaba.
ZANU is destroying our country and we should be wary of these prophets of doom who can’t see beyond Tsvangirai.
Ngoto Zimbwa
According to you, it is ZANU PF destroying the country; but copying their ways will not destroy the country? Is that your understanding?
Interestingly, not even one top MDC-T official quoted in this article has denied or distanced himself from the proposals; so, how then is this a Zanu pf problem?
Get real – both MDC-T and ZANU PF are destroying the country; no matter how much you love Tswangirayi – every day, new and indisputable evidence keeps emerging that proves this. You have nowhere to hide!!
This proposal shows that Zimbabwe will never be free from tyrants and dictators even if MDC T were to win. This fool and his hangers on think they are the saviours yet they are ensuring they stay in control at what ever cost. That is exactly what has got us in the mess we are in today with ZPF and that is why the more sensible are deserting this buffoon.
Come on people, lets get real. We need a truly peoples party that has the nations interests at heart.
Put Morgan ‘shamura’ Tsvangirai in state and we will become a quasa quasa nation as that is all he is interested in.
Unfortunately this move is done in the name of quelling dissent,something heresy in a world of liberals.Further more its quintessential to Zanu pf’s structure of creating an elephant in the room.In principle its rooting out a problem by sowing a gigantic one as seen in Zanu pf.Tswangison just needs to maintain his putative nobleness and alibi from all the accusations of his so called bigotry,other than embracing all typical features of dictatorship.People can decipher between leaders and opportunists.We don’t need to close freedom of dissent by changing rules.
These proposals are out there for all to see.
You don’t like them, you don’t vote MDC.
To say Morgan is going to be worse than Bob is to scaremonger in the extreme.
Bob has the blood of over 20,000 of our fellow countrymen in Matland, thousands in Mashland and an uncountable number of whites, evidence of a brutal repression.
Add to that a nose-diving economy with large scale corruption the norm and anyone with a neuron can get the picture
Morgan is going to beat that?!
What crystal ball, pray, are you guys looking into?
Or, should I ask what weed are you smoking?
The MDC went into the GNU, foolishly to many people’s thinking, it must be stressed but they brought about many positive changes despite the little influence they had, showing what can be done for Zim under their stewardship.
What’s the alternative?
A Ncube, who has all but disappeared from the scene to his ZPF sponsored farm?
A Dabengwa, suffering mass desertion?
A Biti, in ZANU’s pockets?
Despite protestations to the contrary, some here, are agents out to destroy the only movement with any chance of ridding Zim of the ZANU monster.
Shame.
Wel said Ngoto.
Its amazing how Morgan manages to have a following with his poor education and poor work history. Has he ever worked as a manager in his life? Was he a student leader? Is he really running MDC or educated people are running the MDC for him. Honestly is he capable of interprating financial reports? Can he run the Country?
He did work before and was once a foreman. Like Mugabe, his problem is primitive thinking that sees collective leadership and decision making as efforts at undermining his leadership. Like most African politicians, he suffers from the big-man syndrome!!
My elaborate comment is directed to stupid Africason who thinks that it needs phd to run a country. What did u got frm Mugabe with his Cert in Education plus a bunch of honorary degrees save for economic decay.