Movement for Democratic Change leader Nelson Chamisa who is likely to face a challenge from secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora at the party’s congress next month has reportedly struck a deal with one of his vice-presidents Elias Mudzuri under which he will guarantee that Mudzuri retains his vice-president’s post.
Mudzuri was one of the potential challengers but may have given in because of a possible backlash from party supporters and some of Chamisa’s militant lieutenants.
He was confronted by some of Chamisa’s lieutenants when he went to State house to present himself and other senior Members of Parliament to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
According to the Daily News the deal was struck by Mudzuri’s supporters from Masvingo province.
The deal, if true, leaves Chamisa to face Mwonzora who beat him for the post of secretary-general at the party’s 2014 congress largely because of the backing Mwonzora got from party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mwonzora seems intent on challenging Chamisa and recently retweeted a message from Bertha Mwonzora which said: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
Mudzuri, who is 21 years older than Chamisa, may also be biding his time as Chamisa is increasingly turning into an intolerant leader who might not last until the 2023 elections as the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front is slowly making inroads into the urban areas which have been a stronghold of the MDC.
ZANU-PF recently won an urban council seat in Bulawayo though some of Chamisa’s top lieutenants attributed this to rigging.
ZANU-PF insiders say President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s aim is to reverse the current trend where the ZANU-PF stronghold is the rural areas to wrestle back the urban areas from the MDC.
His answer to this is massive employment creation which will win him the urban voters.
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