Tsvangirai stays put- no early congress

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai today survived calls for him to step down after the party executive ruled that the party would not hold an early congress because there was now leadership crisis. Tsvangirai has been under pressure to step down after losing last year’s presidential elections. Some of his top lieutenants say after 15 years at the helm of the party he should now give way to a new leadership to save the party and preserve his own legacy. The party’s next congress is in 2016. An early congress can, however, be called if the party’s national council decides so. Calls for Tsvangirai to step down have come from chief fund-raiser, Roy Bennett, Ian Kay and deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma. Former national organising secretary Elias Mudzuri has publicly stated that he is interested in the presidency. Tsvangirai supporters say Mangoma is fronting for party secretary-general Tendai Biti who denies he is interested in the top post but has not come out in support of Tsvangirai’s continued leadership.

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