Nelson Chamisa weighs options, mulls forming his party

FALLEN former MDC-T organizing secretary Nelson Chamisa, is allegedly mulling to form his own party after losing the party's secretary general post to dark horse Douglas Mwonzora, who was the party's secretary for information and publicity.

Chamisa received 1,762 votes for the secretary general's post against Mwonzora's 2,464 at the party's 4th congress held at the City Sports Centre in Harare over the weekend.

Sources in the party who are close to Chamisa said he believes he has the political clout to mobilize some of the disgruntled party members and pull out of the party as he feels that MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai manipulated the election results in favour of Mwonzora.

Chamisa has been avoiding journalists since his defeat, with newly elected MDC-T secretary for information and publicity Obert Gutu saying he had received calls from more than 20 journalists inquiring as to why he was not answering his phone.

"You are the 23rd journalist who has called me complaining that Chamisa was either not reachable or not picking up his phone," he said.

But sources close to Chamisa said he was weighing his chances of taking the party to the High Court to challenge the election process.

It is Chamisa's view, according to the sources, that the election was rigged in favour of Mwonzora who only managed to get nomination from a single province against Chamisa's 11 provinces.

They said Chamisa had resolved to pull out of the party, but was being held back from abandoning ship now because of the parliamentary seat he holds.

Chamisa is Kuwadzana East Member of the National Assembly and would likely lose his seat if he leaves the MDC-T and the party writes to Parliament disowning him.

Shocked by the election results, Chamisa quietly left the congress venue before announcement of the results after realizing the impending defeat.

He is due to hold a Press conference tomorrow to expound on his vision of leaving the party and form his own, the sources said.

"He has also resolved not to accept any appointment by Tsvangirai," said the sources. "Remember, in terms of the constitutional amendments railroaded by Tsvangirai at congress, the standing committee has been expanded and the president is empowered to appoint some heads of portfolios, like secretary for elections."

Another source said joining the MDC Renewal Team was still an option for Chamisa, but it created a challenge in that he had pushed for the ouster of the then secretary general Tendai Biti in his ambitious bid to take over the post.

"He knows Biti has not forgiven him for orchestrating that they be pushed out of the party," he said.

Chamisa is said to have fallen out of favour with Tsvangirai who suspected that the youthful politician was too ambitious.