News / Local
Chamisa faces MDC-T ouster
20 Oct 2015 at 06:50hrs | Views
FRESH fissures have rocked the main opposition MDC-T amid reports that some hawks aligned to party leader Morgan Tsvangirai were pushing for the ouster of Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa accusing him of building a separate war chest to challenge for the party presidency in the 2018 elections.
Chamisa, who until last year's MDC-T congress had built a strong powerbase as national organising secretary, is now in the eye of the storm, with some senior party officials viewing him as a major threat to Tsvangirai's leadership.
Chamisa's rivals have reportedly hatched a plan to set him up against Tsvangirai to "fast-track" his expulsion from the party.
Party sources said tension swelled two weeks ago when Chamisa received a hero's welcome at the burial of the late Nkulumane legislator Thamsanqa Mahlangu in Bulawayo.
Tsvangirai and several other top MDC-T officials boycotted the event saying they did not want to be seen taking sides with any of the three families fighting over Mahlangu's body.
Chamisa yesterday declined to comment over the issue.
A few weeks ago, Chamisa challenged Tsvangirai that instead of looking for consipracy theories, leaders should be focused on strengthening the party after the MDC-T leader reportedly addressed party supporters in Chitungwiza and accused the Kuwadzana legislator of plotting to
wrest power from him.
The intra-party clashes that occurred in Highfield, Harare, at the weekend have also been cited as part of efforts to build a strong case to justify plans to axe Chamisa from the party.
The violence broke out following an address by MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, seen as one of Chamisa's bitter rivals.
Chamisa, who until last year's MDC-T congress had built a strong powerbase as national organising secretary, is now in the eye of the storm, with some senior party officials viewing him as a major threat to Tsvangirai's leadership.
Chamisa's rivals have reportedly hatched a plan to set him up against Tsvangirai to "fast-track" his expulsion from the party.
Party sources said tension swelled two weeks ago when Chamisa received a hero's welcome at the burial of the late Nkulumane legislator Thamsanqa Mahlangu in Bulawayo.
Tsvangirai and several other top MDC-T officials boycotted the event saying they did not want to be seen taking sides with any of the three families fighting over Mahlangu's body.
Chamisa yesterday declined to comment over the issue.
A few weeks ago, Chamisa challenged Tsvangirai that instead of looking for consipracy theories, leaders should be focused on strengthening the party after the MDC-T leader reportedly addressed party supporters in Chitungwiza and accused the Kuwadzana legislator of plotting to
wrest power from him.
The intra-party clashes that occurred in Highfield, Harare, at the weekend have also been cited as part of efforts to build a strong case to justify plans to axe Chamisa from the party.
The violence broke out following an address by MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, seen as one of Chamisa's bitter rivals.
Source - newsday
