by Innocent Mujeri
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Manicaland Youth Assembly has dumped Nelson Chamisa labelling him an illegitimate, violent and egocentric leader who should not be at the helm of that party.
A press statement released by the MDC Manicaland Youth Assembly Secretary General, Benevolence Taisekwa on Saturday, shows that the province has embraced the Supreme Court judgement which ruled that Chamisa was an illegitimate leader of the opposition outfit and they are eagerly waiting for the extra ordinary congress as directed by the court.
“The MDC Manicaland Province Youth Assembly as constituted in 2014 embraces the Supreme Court judgment and eagerly awaits the convening of the Extra Ordinary Congress as directed,” reads the statement.
Taisekwa said the MDC had lost direction under the leadership of Chamisa, as he tramples upon, the party’s aims, values and objectives to suit his political ambitions.
According to Taisekwa, the MDC has been infiltrated by some G40 elements who were now dictating, the direction the party should take.
He said some of the infiltrators are now Chamisa’s advisors at the expense of the seasoned and mature members of the party.
“Furthermore, the leadership was heavily infiltrated by the G40 elements with the likes of Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Jeppy Jaboon, Shadreck Mashayamombe, Dzikamai Mavhaire and Jim Kunaka occupying influential leadership roles in our party. Professor Moyo assumed the role of party strategist and chief advisor to MDC party presidency,” said Taisekwa.
Taisekwa further said as the MDC Manicaland Youth Assembly, they were not amused by how some senior members of the party were booted out of the influential positions to accommodate G40 members and Chamisa’s loyalists.
“The founding members, especially those who believed in our Founding Father, Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, were suspiciously and ruthlessly booted out of the leadership of the party. It can only be assumed that the ultimate aim was to incorporate, the G40 element of ZANU PF and those that had deserted our Founding Father Tsvangirai to form their own parties which were rejected by Zimbabweans,” said Taisekwa.
Taisekwa further opined that the MDC Manicaland Youth Assembly had no respect for Chamisa as he also has failed to honour and respect the wishes of Tsvangirai.
Taisekwa also said Chamisa was an illegitimate leader and who was on a spree to destroy what Tsvangirai built.
“It is not surprising therefore that the party headquarters has no portrait of our founding father, but that of the illegitimate leader Nelson Chamisa. Nelson Chamisa has no regard for heroes of our struggle for democracy. An MDC that ignores Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy has nothing to do with democracy and the freedom of our people,” fumed Taisekwa.
According to Taisekwa, Chamisa has turned the MDC into a violent rebel group and this is against the founding principles of the party. Chamisa is further accused by the MDC Manicaland youths of unleashing the Vanguard, an MDC militia group, against Thokozani Khupe and Douglass Mwonzora at the funeral of Tsvangirai, for having different political views with Chamisa.
Taisekwa also said that the MDC under Chamisa’s leadership was slowly sinking into oblivion as the current leadership has no aptitude or zeal to steer the party to political glory.
“The results of recent local government by-elections across the country demonstrate how the party was worryingly going into oblivion under Chamisa. The reason for the party’s poor showing in these by-elections is because the true cadres of the party were disillusioned and the majority of them were displaced by the wicked illegal pro-Chamisa congress held in Gweru,” said Taisekwa.
The MDC Manicaland youths are now waiting for the extra ordinary congress to correct the mess that they opine was created by Chamisa.
Taisekwa further said the assertion that Chamisa was Tsvangirai’s preferred successor was wrong and grossly false as Tsvangirai refused to appoint a successor opting for people to choose their preferred successor at an extra ordinary congress.
According to Taisekwa, Chamisa is aware that he will lose the presidency if he contests at the extra ordinary congress, hence his attempt to disregard the Supreme Court ruling.
Chamisa’s popularity continues to dwindle by the day, with some MDC members in Harare openly regretting the day he took over the presidency of the party.
A Harare MDC member who preferred anonymity said if Chamisa continued to be at the helm of the party, the MDC will dismally lose the 2023 elections.
The same member said the new slogan of Chamisa Chete Chete was not an MDC slogan but was introduced by Chamisa to erase the name of Tsvangirai in the party.
The continued bickering in the MDC is likely to cause another split as more members are losing faith in the current leadership.
