Tsvangirai tightens grip Mr Tsvangirai
Morgan Tsvangirai

Morgan Tsvangirai

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has barred individuals from directly submitting names for nominations by assigning that role to provincial councils as the opposition party tightens the screening process ahead of its October congress. This is a departure from the party’s traditional congresses at which individuals have positioned themselves for nominations, a development that could see some aspirants falling by the way side.
The development is also expected to ease the passage for Mr Tsvangirai, as it has the effect of elbowing those who might want to pose a challenge.

Mr Tsvangirai is under fire for trying to centralise power by pushing constitutional amendments whose effect would be to weaken the office of the secretary general.

It has been alleged that this office has tended to rival that of the president, hence the temptations for former secretaries-general to seek to oust Mr Tsvangirai.

The MDC-T has since set up a constitutional review committee to, among other things, amend the constitution so that it bars people from submitting their names for nomination.

Sources in the party said delegating powers to nominate candidates for national positions to provincial councils gave an edge to Mr Tsvangirai and his preferred people.

“It leaves Mr Tsvangirai with implicit powers to hand-pick his team and hangers-on,” said the source.
“It does not sound fair although it has got some positives.”

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora confirmed that provincial councils would now nominate candidates for positions.
“One will have to wait for the process to see if he has been nominated,” said Mr Mwonzora.

“The process is fair and democratic because it is people-oriented. It is people who nominate a candidate.”
Those loyal to Mr Tsvangirai include organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa, women’s assembly chairperson Mrs Theresa Makone and deputy national chairperson Mr Morgan Komichi.

Indications are that Mr Chamisa will fight it out with other aspirants who include party spokesperson Mr Mwonzora and deputy secretary-general Dr Tapiwa Mashakada for the post of secretary- general.

Mrs Makone will be eyeing the post of treasurer-general which was formerly headed by Mr Roy Bennett.

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