Tsvangirai dumps 'blue eyed boy' Chamisa

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai's perceived "blue-eyed boy" Nelson Chamisa's had his promising political career blown off the rails at the weekend after he suffered a shock defeat to former Nyanga North legislator Douglas Mwonzora for the post of secretary-general.

Until the latest defeat, Chamisa had been touted as one of Tsvangirai's possible successors, given his political clout which immensely contributed to his meteoric political rise from youth leader, party spokesperson and national organizing secretary — all within a short space of time.

In contrast, Mwonzora had until Friday's elective congress wore the underdog tag and was least expected to land the post after being nominated by just one out of the party's 12 provinces.

However, Mwonzora garnered 2 464 votes against Chamisa's 1 756.

"I feel humbled by the support l got from the members of the MDC. It shows their confidence in me," Mwonzora said shortly after the announcement of the results early yesterday morning.

"I was very; very heartened that l was able to succeed."

Magnanimous in victory, Mwonzora described Chamisa, a recent law graduate, as a bright young man with a good future.

"He is definitely a very difficult opponent, but at the end of the day, one of us had to win," he said.

"The ultimate beneficiary, I think, is democracy."

Chamisa, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, is believed to have offended Tsvangirai after he exhibited ambitions to take over the party's leadership.

The two recently clashed in public during provincial elections in Manicaland after Tsvangirai allegedly manipulated the nomination system to ensure Mwonzora got nominated.

Chamisa's sympathizers yesterday accused Tsvangirai of rigging the polls to ensure the youthful Kuwadzana East MP was left out of all key party structures as he was viewed as a threat to the presidency.

"Tsvangirai's personal involvement in the running of provincial and national elections raised a lot of questions over the credibility of the polls," said an MDC-T insider, who declined to be named.

"In the run-up to these elections, he bent all party rules to ensure his cronies got elected."

However, Tsvangirai, in his closing remarks, described the internal polls conducted by officials from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, as free and fair, adding that in the MDC-T there were no losers or winners.

The secretary-general's post, long considered as one of the most powerful positions in the MDC-T, fell vacant early this year after the incumbent, Tendai Biti broke ranks with Tsvangirai and formed the MDC Renewal Team.