Opposition MDC-T national chairperson Morgen Komichi says delays by the party’s president Douglas Mwonzora in announcing dates for the party’s elective congress have caused divisions in the party.
The party was due for its elective congress this year but dates keep being shifted for various reasons.
In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, Komichi said the impact of the continued postponement of the internal elections was causing uneasiness in the party. He is quoted as saying:
People are anxious about the elective congress. Its like they wanted the congress yesterday. The delay in proclaiming the election date is impacting negatively the party. It is not healthy for the party.
The delay in announcing the date has apparently divided the people. We should do away with the congress and focus on building our party ahead of the national elections. Naturally elections bring divisions and we need to complete the process so that we heal before the elections.
Komichi said the party‘s Constitution stipulates that the president must proclaim the dates in consultations with other relevant party structures.
He said the party should also put in place enough resources for the elections as well as make sure that it has eligible structures to attend the congress.
Asked whether he will contest during the elections Komichi said he will leave that to the voters to decide.
In May Mwonzora announced that the congress would be held at the end of June but he did not.
He has been accused of delaying holding the congress, allegedly fearing ouster following the party’s poor show in the recently held by-elections.
Komichi, vice president Elias Mudzuri and ordinary party member Norest Masara are reportedly eyeing the party’s presidency.
The previous congress held in 2020 did not end well after violence erupted amid allegations by then-acting president Thokozani Khupe that Mwonzora was rigging the elections. Mwonzora won the presidency at that congress.
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