MDC-T clears hurdles ahead of congress

It's now game on in Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC after the party rejected plans to handpick members of the standing committee instead of electing them through popular vote.

The decision, taken yesterday by the National Council, paves way for elections at the October congress.

Efforts by the party's deputy national chairman Morgen Komichi to amend the party's constitution to dilute powers of the secretary general hit a brick wall when the National Council voted against the proposal yesterday.

The heated National Council meeting was held a day after the National Executive held an explosive 11-hour meeting at the party's Harvest House headquarters.

Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC secretary general, told journalists that "we have been able to keep the party on its democratic path."