THE MDC-T yesterday said it is now geared for its congress to be held in Harare between October 31 and November 1, albeit financial challenges stemming from mass defections spurred by former top officials.
PAIDAMOYO MUZULU SENIOR REPORTER MDC-T national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa yesterday confirmed the dates and venue.
“The party congresses will be held on October 31 and November 1 at the City Sports Centre in Harare,” he said.
The congress, originally set for 2016, had to be brought forward after former deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma and secretary-general Tendai Biti launched a massive campaign to push for urgent leadership renewal.
The campaign reached a crescendo in February this year when loyalists of MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai violently reacted to the campaign leaders, leading to the formation of a splinter group called MDC-Renewal team.
The MDC-T congress had been hit by uncertainty following reports that the opposition party’s coffers went dry following the split with the party’s traditional funders pulling out in droves.
Chamisa yesterday said they had secured adequate funding for the congress, despite donors’ withdrawal and the government’s failure to release the MDC-T’s financial quota for this year.
“The party has always been funded by its members. Our members know how to sustain the democratic struggle through service and sacrifice, therefore the issue of budget has not been a major issue,” he added.
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He said the women’s and youth wings’ congresses would be held simultaneously with that of the main wing to reduce costs.
Chamisa said Biti, Mangoma and their MDC-Renewal team followers would not be part of this year’s MDC-T congress as they had severed ties with the party.
“We have not invited Zanu PF neither have we invited Biti and his oranges,” he said in reference to MDC-Renewal’s official orange colour.
The Renewal team congress has been tentatively set for March next year.
Chamisa said the MDC-T congress would deal mainly with five issues that are meant to re-orient and restructure the party to deliver in the next general elections.
The party is currently finalising district congresses before holding the provincial congresses that will lead to the national event at the end of October.
While there is no contest for the party presidency, all other positions are up for grabs with Tsvangirai’s lieutenants already reportedly engaged in fierce campaigns to land key posts.
