MDC wanted Justice Sandura for presidency

WHEN Professor Welshman Ncube's MDC went shopping for a leader ahead of the party's 2006 congress, Supreme Court judge Justice Wilson Sandura was lined up for the post, it has emerged.

But The Sunday Mail can exclusively reveal that the discussions collapsed, following disagreements on the finer details pertaining to the audacious manoeuvre.

Highly placed sources within the Ncube-led MDC said Justice Sandura was the preferred candidate among three individuals who had been earmarked for the top post.

The other candidates were renowned evangelist Bishop Trevor Manhanga and robotics and mechatronics expert Professor Arthur Mutambara. Prof Mutambara went on to win the presidency at a congress held in Bulawayo in February 2006.

He was later ousted early this year at a controversial congress whose constitutionality is being challenged in court.

According to sources, the idea to rope in Justice Sandura came from Ncube who, as professor of law at the time, had interacted professionally with the judge.

When the MDC schemers failed to bring on board Justice Sandura, they considered Bishop Manhanga, who fell by the wayside after some party heavyweights, including the late Gibson Sibanda, questioned his perceived allegiance to Zanu-PF.

"Prof Ncube, Gibson Sibanda, Moses Mzila Ndlovu, Priscilla-Misihairabwi-Mushonga, Paul Themba Nyathi and Fletcher Dulini Ncube were part of the team that scouted for a leader of the party after the split," said the source.

"They approached Justice Sandura and later Arthur Mutambara. However, the idea to pursue Bishop Manhanga was dropped because some party members did not trust the bishop. Justice Sandura became a natural choice, but the challenge was that he was still on the bench."

"Prof Ncube then suggested that the party engages his long-time friend, Prof Mutambara, who at the time was in the United States.

"Ncube and other party bigwigs then travelled to the United States and engaged Prof Mutambara, who agreed to return to Zimbabwe," said the source.

However, Justice Sandura yesterday refuted claims that the MDC had approached him with an offer to lead the party.

"No, there was nothing like that. It is totally false. I was a judge of the Supreme Court at that time and no one ever approached me. I am not a politician," said Justice Sandura.

MDC spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube also denied his party had sought the services of the judge.
"There is no truth to that rumour. There is no way a party can look for leaders outside the structures.
"This might be the work of our detractors out there to tarnish our image as a party. It is our provinces which nominate leaders for the congress to endorse," said Dube.

The Prof Ncube-led MDC faced a leadership crisis after splitting from the mainstream MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai in 2005.

Justice Sandura retired from the bench a few months ago.