End is nigh for MDC-T

At a time when MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa is in panic mode trying to convince party supporters that he is the legitimate leader, senior party members have been distancing themselves from party activities and some resigning, with the resignation of MDC-T national chairman Lovemore Moyo being the latest debacle.
 
Amongst other reasons for tendering his resignation, Moyo cited the unconstitutional power grab by Chamisa, violence rocking the party, tribalism and sexism within the party. Moyo previously had a fall out with former MDC-T leader, the late Morgan Tsvangirai, over the formation of the MDC Alliance. He carried his reservations of the Alliance formation to Chamisa soon after his endorsement, and Chamisa dismissed him, something that did not go down well with him.
 
On the surface, Chamisa has been in denial about his party being rocked by divisions and being on the umpteenth time split as disgruntled Thokozani Khupe breaks away. Chamisa has turned a blind eye to intra party violence and lack of democracy which saw him upstage Khupe in dramatic fashion to secure the MDC T presidency. Moyo's confirmation that all is not well in the party goes on to show that Chamisa is deceiving party members in pursuit of selfish personal agendas.

Chamisa is surrounded by a pack of wolves calling themselves the vanguards that once threatened to deal violently with Elias Mudzuri, Obert Gutu and Douglas Mwonzora if the trio came close to the Party's headquarters at Harvest House. It is probably the same youths who almost torched Khupe and Mwonzora in a hut during the burial of the late Tsvangirai in Buhera earlier this year. Previously party members within MDC-T who are in senior leadership positions who include Thokozani Khupe, Abednico Bhebhe and Lovemore Moyo have been victims of intra party violence simply for opposing Chamisa's modus operandi.
 
Moyo also cited sexism as part of the reasons why he was resigning from the party. The MDC Alliance has no female principal in its structure. In the MDC-T itself, the duly elected vice president Khupe was side-lined by the late Tsvangirai when he appointed two male vice presidents. In all essence, MDC-T has not been respecting the principles of dialogue and engagement as well as respect for democracy and good governance.

If MDC-T is not able resolve intra party politics, it will surely be a hurdle if not an impossibility for Chamisa to stand and lead the whole country. Any leader would be expected to be able to manage internal or domestic politics before extending to affairs outside his or her own home. As it is, Chamisa has failed MDC-T and the Alliance as there is no equal representation, open ground for fair play by principals as well as indiscipline from party members.

Chamisa should first take time to resolve internal party politics and make amends with disgruntled party members before standing in-front of the electorate and promising them air pies. Chamisa should not bulldoze his way into leadership but should follow the party constitution, an indication that he will also respect the national constitution. Leaders should be answerable for their actions and actions of their parties; Chamisa is expected to do the same to stand out as a credible leader.