Huge boost for Chamisa

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, has received an early boost ahead of what could turn out to be a bruising contest when the MDC congress gets underway in three months' time, after several party structures moved to endorse his candidature at the weekend.

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC has announced that its elective congress will be held in May following a national council meeting in Harare.

Chamisa is seeking to retain the post he took through a national council resolution following the death of founding president Morgan Tsvangirai last February.

Some members are reportedly accusing party leader Nelson Chamisa of manipulating the structures in his favour and making it hard for his challengers to come out and openly campaign ahead of the congress.

Chamisa's challengers accused his lieutenants of tampering with structures and indirectly making it difficult for those reportedly outside his camp to freely open up and prepare for the elective congress.

This has forced disgruntled structures across the country to appeal to secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora to intervene.

Early this month, Mwonzora wrote to provincial secretaries and chairpersons to furnish him with structures so as to counter the alleged on-going manipulations.

Chamisa rose to power in February last year following the death of founding president Morgan Tsvangirai, who succumbed to cancer of the colon.

Insiders said Chamisa wanted congress to remove any doubts over his legitimacy, as he was confident that he would win against possible contenders such as deputy president Elias Mudzuri and secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora.

More to follow..