Chamisa to appoint half of the MDC's leadership

Published: 30 April 2019

MDC president Nelson Chamisa will appoint almost half of the party's leadership after he was given a blank cheque to do so by the party's national council.

Chamisa, who has no challengers for the post of MDC president, will appoint the party's vice chairperson, deputy secretary-general, deputy treasurer and deputy organising chairperson.

In a statement, the party's national spokesperson Jacob Mafume disclosed over the weekend that the positions to be contested include that of president, vice president, national chairperson, secretary-general and treasurer general. For the rest of the positions, Chamisa will exercise his discretion to handpick office bearers.

Interestingly, some of the party faithful who are set to lose out had already been nominated to contest for various posts at congress set for end of May, among them Luke Tamborinyoka - the former spokesperson for founding MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tamborinyoka had been nominated to slug it out with Mafume for the position of party spokesperson.

Outspoken MDC legislator Job Sikhala will also miss the chance to fight for the post of vice chairperson with outgoing youth chairperson Happymore Chidziva. At the national council meeting held on Saturday, a report from the National Independent Electoral Commission was also presented, detailing how elections were conducted.

The party mandated the commission to organise caucuses for those contesting each other to table before members and the public what they will offer the party and country if elected. "These debates shall be open to the public, the media and shall be streamed live on the party's official social media platforms.

"The commission shall appoint independent moderators for these debates," said Mafume, in a statement released over the weekend.

While Chamisa is guaranteed his presidency post, it is dog eat dog for the three vice presidents posts with Tendai Biti, Morgen Komichi, Welshman Ncube, Elias Mudzuri, Lilian Timvieos, Lynette Kore and Trace Muthinhiri all vying for the three posts.

The national council also resolved to reserve a seat for a female vice president and modalities for the same shall be finalised by the Independent Electoral Commission.

The national congress will run from May 24 to 26.
- dailynews

Tags: Chamisa,