MDC-ALLIANCE leader Douglas Mwonzora appears to have outfoxed his competition ahead of the party congress as he emerged the sole candidate for the presidency the opposition party’s national council met in Harare at the weekend and endorsed him without going to congress.
In a statement, the party confirmed Mwonzora as MDC Alliance’s sole presidential candidate for next year’s polls.
But this has irked some presidential hopefuls – among them Norest Marara and party chairman Morgen Komichi – who were eyeing the presidency.
“The MDC national council meeting unanimously nominated Douglas Mwonzora to be the sole presidential candidate at our 5th ordinary congress. By this unanimous nomination, president Mwonzora is now our dully elected presidential candidate for the 2023 harmonised elections,” read part of the statement.
Top party leaders who refused to speak on record told NewsDay that the national council meeting was held under heavy security from party security personnel loyal to Mwonzora.
“There were thugs who were at Harvest House and those who attended feared they could be beaten up. So, there was nobody who could speak out, this is however the same thing that (Nelson) Chamisa did, ascending to the party leadership via bogus delegates of the national council,” the source said.
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Komichi’s loyalists said they felt betrayed after their preferred candidate was instead shortlisted among four other candidates to battle it out for the chairmanship.
“Sibusisiwe Bhuda Masara, Tangwara Matimba, Solomon Chikwero, Komichi and Ekim Moyo are prospective nominees for the position of national chairperson,” the party statement added.