Zimbabwe main opposition party facing real threat of split

The MDC Alliance was a coalition of seven political parties for election purposes but it looks like the Mudzuri-Mwonzora group will insist that the congress is only for members of the party that was led by Morgan Tsvangirai which would rule out people like Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti who were incorporated into the leadership by Chamisa.

Biti is reportedly eyeing the post of vice-president.

Chamisa’s support has largely been measured by the crowds he attracts at rallies but has never been tested internally within the original MDC-T.

The biggest threat to the MDC since its formation 20 years ago, according to treasurer Theresa Makone, has been its treasurer and secretary general.

In the first major split in 2005, secretary-general Welshman Ncube led the split and went away with treasurer Fletcher Dulini Ncube and vice-president Gibson Sibanda.

Tendai Biti, who succeeded Welshman Ncube, led the 2014 split but did not attract treasurer Roy Bennett and vice-president Thokozani Khupe. Bennett left the party on his own accord and did not join any other faction while Khupe remained loyal to Tsvangirai.

Current secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora is one of the main contenders for Chamisa’s post and could lead the split if things do not go according to the constitution.

Mwonzora is a lawyer, and a much more experienced lawyer than Chamisa for that matter. It is not clear how close he is to Makone, who has been grossly overshadowed by her deputy Chalton Hwende, but when Makone told the Insider about the history of MDC splits, Mwonzora was with her.

What has also been significant about the splits is that the departing group, which had the treasurer and secretary-general, left the coffers empty.

Makone said she found only $54 when she took over as treasurer.

Chamisa is currently facing hefty election challenge court bills and so far his fund raising efforts have yielded very little.

The Go-Fund Me campaign launched by Yvonne Mahlunge in London last year has so far raised only £22 000 yet reports said the bill Chamisa has to pay to Mnangagwa’s lawyers as well as those who represented the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission- for losing the election challenge case- was reported to be in excess of $3 million.

The amount raised so far translates to only RTGS74 000 under the new rates.

Chamisa could, however, still sail through as he says he puts God before all his battles.

Chamisa spokesman told to focus on party congress, not Mnangagwa

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