Chamisa wins MDC presidency 'unopposed'

Nelson Chamisa has secured the backing of all the party's 13 provincial structures, as he looks set to become the party's second president following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai in February last year.

Confirmation of his nomination unopposed will be made when the party holds its congress between May 24 and 26 next month.

"Change arrives and begins now," Chamisa said on Twitter after the party's United Kingdom and Ireland province became the last to declare on Saturday.

"Help me pray for the grace and wisdom to lead Zimbabwe to happiness, prosperity and freedom #Godisinit."

Chamisa had been expected to be challenged by the MDC's secretary general Douglas Mwonzora and deputy leader Elias Mudzuri, but the pair failed to secure nominations for the position.

The MDC's Harare East MP Tendai Biti, who has a hatful of nominations to deputise Chamisa, said the nomination process had been "difficult and challenging, but at the end of it democracy triumphed."

"The election of Nelson Chamisa paves the way for the transition to the genuine Second Republic. It will be tough and arduous because these are extraordinary times. And they're dangerous times. We have the chance to restore some semblance of sanity to our politics," Biti said on Twitter.

Chamisa was narrowly beaten to the presidency last July, according to official results, which he insists were rigged to favour Zanu-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

He controversially became caretaker leader following Tsvangirai's death after getting backing from the party's national council.

His nomination without opposition, his supporters say, will finally settle the legitimacy question which has been raised by his internal and external opponents.