MDC-T constitution review gathers pace

Politics
THE Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T provincial assemblies will next Wednesday meet at the party headquarters in Harare to debate the proposed ammendment to the party constitution aimed at creating an expanded presidium.

THE Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T provincial assemblies will next Wednesday meet at the party headquarters in Harare to debate the proposed ammendment to the party constitution aimed at creating an expanded presidium. PAIDAMOYO MUZULU SENIOR REPORTER

Other proposals to be tabled for debate include curtailing the secretary-general’s powers and reducing the size of provincial structures from the current 12 to 10.

MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora yesterday confirmed the meeting.

“It’s true the party will start discussions on the proposed amendments ahead of the congress starting next week,” he said.

“The first province that will get the opportunity to debate the amendments is Mashonaland East who will hold a meeting at the national headquarters.”

The amendments come hard on the heels of the unceremonious departure of several top MDC-T officials, among them secretary-general Tendai Biti and deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma after they clashed with Tsvangirai over leadership renewal.

Biti and his group, now known as the renewal team, were pushing for Tsvangirai to step down as MDC-T leader at the party’s elective congress in October this year.

Originally, the congress should have been held in 2016, but the acrimony and internal power struggles after the MDC-T’s heavy defeat in last year’s elections forced the party to bring it forward.

Suggested amendments to the provincial structure will likely see the redefining of boundaries in the Midlands and Harare provinces.

Currently, the Midlands is divided into two provinces namely Midlands North and Midlands South while Harare has two provinces — Harare proper and Chitungwiza.

Chitungwiza boundaries incorporate Chitungwiza Municipality, Norton, Seke, Ruwa and Goromonzi.

Under the proposed amendments, the MDC-T president will have powers to appoint the second vice-president and secretary-general of the party. The president’s office will also have some of the functions of the secretary’s office. Meanwhile, jostling for the party’s top six posts has reportedly reached the apex.

National executive member Elias Mudzuri has challenged Tsvangirai for the presidency while Theresa Makone and acting secretary-general Tapiwa Mashakada are reportedly angling for the treasurer-general’s post. Mwonzora and organising secretary Nelson Chamisa are set to lock horns over the secretary-general’s post.

Party insiders claimed that national chairman Lovemore Moyo was eyeing the second-vice president’s post while his deputy Morgan Komichi hope to land the same office via a presidential appointment.