News / National
MDC bigwigs defy Chamisa's National Council
04 May 2019 at 19:42hrs | Views
IT is the battle of the titans in the MDC as party bigwigs vying for the three vice presidency posts defied the National Council to withdraw from the race ahead of the party's congress later this month in Gweru.
Eight candidates, namely Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, Elias Mudzuri, Morgen Komichi, Lilian Timvoes, Lynnette Karenyi Kore, Paurina Mpariwa and Tracey Mutinhiri are all vying for the party's three vice presidency slots.
Party's spokesperson Jacob Mafume told the Daily News that none among the bigwigs have withdrawn from the cluttered race to deputise Nelson Chamisa who is now waiting to be anointed when the party congregates from the 24th to the 26th of this month.
"We are still waiting for people to make withdrawals but so far no one has withdrawn maybe because Wednesday was a holiday. But if there is no consensus then there will be elections," said Mafume.
After a national council meeting last weekend, the MDC resolved that candidates who had been nominated were supposed to build consensus among themselves and minimise friction.
"All nominees had been given up to Tuesday (last week) to accept nominations or to withdraw. Where more than two candidates accept the nomination, they are encouraged to discuss in the spirit of consensus building," read part of the resolutions.
However, the die is cast as all the candidates start to campaign for a fight that will either prop them up the political ladder or completely off the radar if they lose.
Mafume said as things stand the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has already started the process of producing ballots.
"Since there are no agreements we are now going for contestations which will be superintended by the ZCTU. The Electoral Commission shall then produce ballots on every position where more than one candidate decide to contest. The positions to be contested include the president, vice president, national chairperson, secretary-general and treasurer-general," said Mafume.
Eight candidates, namely Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, Elias Mudzuri, Morgen Komichi, Lilian Timvoes, Lynnette Karenyi Kore, Paurina Mpariwa and Tracey Mutinhiri are all vying for the party's three vice presidency slots.
Party's spokesperson Jacob Mafume told the Daily News that none among the bigwigs have withdrawn from the cluttered race to deputise Nelson Chamisa who is now waiting to be anointed when the party congregates from the 24th to the 26th of this month.
"We are still waiting for people to make withdrawals but so far no one has withdrawn maybe because Wednesday was a holiday. But if there is no consensus then there will be elections," said Mafume.
"All nominees had been given up to Tuesday (last week) to accept nominations or to withdraw. Where more than two candidates accept the nomination, they are encouraged to discuss in the spirit of consensus building," read part of the resolutions.
However, the die is cast as all the candidates start to campaign for a fight that will either prop them up the political ladder or completely off the radar if they lose.
Mafume said as things stand the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has already started the process of producing ballots.
"Since there are no agreements we are now going for contestations which will be superintended by the ZCTU. The Electoral Commission shall then produce ballots on every position where more than one candidate decide to contest. The positions to be contested include the president, vice president, national chairperson, secretary-general and treasurer-general," said Mafume.
Source - dailynews
