Tsvangirai's MDC-T constitutional reforms fiercely resisted

THE opposition MDC-T is in a quandary over its proposed constitutional amendments that would have allowed party leader Morgan Tsvangirai to appoint members of the standing committee and a second vice-president amid reports that the move was being fiercely resisted by some provincial leaders.

This was revealed yesterday as the party's top leadership, the standing committee, met in Harare yesterday to receive reports of how the provinces were reacting to the proposed changes.

The MDC-T's standing committee was also receiving reports on preparations for the party's congress to be held in October.

The party's Matabeleland structures last week strongly resisted the amendments, labelling them wasteful to the party resources.

MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora confirmed yesterday's meeting.

"The standing committee received reports from the constitution and the organising committees, but we still await the full national reports before we can make a pronouncement on the way forward as a leadership," Mwonzora said.

Sources, however, maintained that most provincial structures were against giving Tsvangirai the sole responsibility to choose the party's top leadership.

"Members feel strongly that Tsvangirai, in trying to contain factionalism, was ready to expand the presidium and have Elias Mudzuri as the second vice-president," the source said.

Mudzuri has declared an interest to contest against Tsvangirai.

Meanwhile, Mwonzora said the MDC-T would send a delegation headed by vice-president Thokozani Khupe to meet African regional leaders at next week's Sadc Summit to apprise them on political developments since last year's polls.