FULL TEXT: Douglas Mwonzora Did Not Step Down From Challenging Chamisa -Hwende

Below are excerpts from an interview between Charlton Hwende (CH) Obey Manayiti (OM) a senior reporter at the Standard (OM). Hwende an aspirant for the Secretary-General post claims that his major contender for the post, Douglas Mwonzora was forced to withdraw from the Presidency race by failure to get nominations. See excerpts below:

OM: There are others who are saying you lack capacity and that you should have paved way for Mwonzora, who has backed down from contesting Chamisa. What can you say about this?

CH: I am not sure of your definition of capacity. But I have already demonstrated to you that I have a compelling track record of success in the student movement, corporate world and as a political leader. I have been elected to lead fellow cadres at various levels in the party. Currently, I am the outgoing national deputy treasurer-general of the MDC following my election at the 2014 party congress. The nine provinces who nominated me this time around are actually saying I should be promoted because they believe I have the capacity to be secretary-general of the party based on my past achievements. Last year I was elected MP for Kuwadzana East. I am sure those who elected me in all these cases are sure that I have the capacity to lead. For the record, Douglas Mwonzora did not step down from challenging Chamisa for the post of party president. The truth of the matter is that Mwonzora failed to get any nomination for the post of president while Chamisa garnered 13 out of 13 nominations from the party’s provinces. Mwonzora did not do Chamisa favour at all and nobody owes him a favour in return.

 

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