Tsvangirai unlikely to be contested at the MDC-T congress in October

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is unlikely to be contested at congress in October amid revelations Elias Mudzuri, who was eyeing party presidency, is developing cold feet.

Reliable sources within the MDC-T say while Mudzuri was fast backtracking on his ambitions, other senior party members were tearing each other apart as the race hots up.

Yesterday Mudzuri claimed he was never in the race for Tsvangirai's job.

"I was never in the race. It is people that nominate leaders. I never offered myself. Leaders come from the people. I don't give myself leadership. How does one appoint themselves leader? I've never asked for any position all my life, I have been given positions by the people. You're actually sponsored by the people. It's the public that starts debate," he said.

Mudzuri said it was the media that speculated that he wanted the MDC-T presidency.

But some quarters within the MDC-T insist that Mudzuri intends to surprise Tsvangirai at the congress and is playing his cards close to his chest.

The sources claimed that Mudzuri now has strong influence in some provinces like Harare and Masvingo and is making secret manoeuvres to contest Tsvangirai whose leadership has been dented by consistent defeat to Zanu-PF in national elections.

The sources say MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora and Tapiwa Mashakada are eyeing the secretary-general post.

The post was left vacant by Tendai Biti who is now with the Renewal Team after breaking ranks with the MDC-T.

Obert Gutu and Theresa Makone are gunning for the treasurer-general post which is deemed vacant as the incumbent, Roy Bennett, has fallen out of favour with Tsvangirai whom he accuses of dictatorial tendencies and leadership failure.

Paurina Mpariwa is eyeing the deputy secretary general post while Lillian Timveos is tipped to take over as chair of the Women Assembly.

"Morgen Komichi is eyeing the second vice president post. Lovemore Moyo is likely to be retained as the national chair. Gutu is front runner for the treasurer-general post. Theresa Makone is also interested in the same post. Morgan Tsvangirai is likely to be unchallenged because Mudzuri is developing cold feet. Thokozani Khupe is set to retain the first vice president post," said a highly placed source within the MDC-T.

It is believed MDC-T national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa is targeting the deputy national chairperson position. Deputy organising secretary Abednigo Bhebhe is reportedly contemplating taking over from Chamisa.

"Chamisa, who initially was eyeing the secretary general position, now wants to be the deputy national chair after noticing that Mwonzora has covered a lot of ground in canvassing for support. The grassroots is also not happy with the manner he organised the party for the 2013 harmonised elections," another source said.

Sources claim Amos Chibaya is also vying for the national organising secretary position while Komichi aggressively pushed for the amendment of the MDC-T constitution to enable him land the second vice president post. Chamisa was quoted in the media this week confirming the party's congress would run from October 31 to November 1 at the City Sports Centre in Harare.

While Mwonzora was not answering his mobile phone, Chamisa yesterday laughed off reports that he was eyeing the deputy national chairman position and accused our Harare Bureau of trying to belittle him.

"Speculation has not been criminalised in our constitution but it's the structures and the organs of the party that define leadership. But why are you relegating me to the deputy chair?" he said.