MDC fight escalates

CHENGETAI ZVAUYA

A fierce fight has erupted in the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance amid revelations some members are jostling to take up the ticket to represent the opposition party from those that crossed the floor to MDC-T last year.

The party’s organising secretary, Amon Chibaya, confirmed the infighting to Business Times but warned party members that it was not the right time to start campaigning for the posts.

Chibaya indicated that the MDC-Alliance party had not started the process of nominating candidates to replace those members of Parliament and councillors that crossed the floor to the MDC-T party led by Douglas Mwonzora.

“We also have reports that in some constituencies some party members are already imposing themselves as MPs and councillors,” Chibaya said this week.

It is understood that in some constituencies some prospective MPs and councillors are lobbying and campaigning for the vacant posts.

Last year, several MDC-Alliance MPs and councillors crossed the floor to MDC-T after the then interim leader, Thokozani Khupe and then secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora accused some MPs and councillors of undermining their authority.

Khupe and Mwonzora launched a broadside and recalled several MPs and councillors who remained loyal to MDC-Alliance leader Chamisa.

Mwonzora is now the president of MDC-T after defeating Khupe, Elias Mudzuri and Morgan Komichi at the Extraordinary Congress held in the capital in December.

Khupe, who challenged Mwonzora’s victory and Mudzuri were appointed vice presidents while Komichi was appointed the MDC-T national chairman. Apparently, Khupe is yet to publicly accept the appointment.

Some of the legislators that have crossed the floor to MDC-T include Peter Moyo (Southerton) Winnie Kakuni (Sunningdale) David Tekeshe (Makoni Central) Paurina Mpariwa and Morgan Femai both Senators in Harare province.

Among the councillors to cross the floor include Brian Matione and former deputy mayor Luckson Mukunguma.

Analysts say Chamisa’s party has to start laying the groundwork after suffering a setback by the recalling of the MPs and councillors. The government has banned by-elections as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

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