‘Campaign against Chamisa escalates’

By Mugove Tafirenyika

HARARE – Supporters of Kuwadzana legislator Nelson Chamisa say his rivals in the MDC are allegedly ratcheting up the pressure to get him isolated and banished from the party.

One of his allies who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said the latest indication that there was a campaign against Chamisa came at a recent meeting at the MDC’s Harare headquarters, Harvest House, where his opponents had allegedly attacked him and accused him of attempting to illegally wrest power from former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

The insider also claimed that there was growing anger within the MDC about the party’s mooted coalition with the People First movement while it was seemingly unwilling “to take bold risks” to oust Zanu PF from power.

Another source claimed that the party’s vice president, Thokozani Khupe, had allegedly teamed up with secretary general Douglas Mwonzora, deputy national chairperson Morgen Komichi and national organising secretary Abednico Bhebhe “to thwart any chances of Chamisa leading the party” by portraying him as an impediment to the mooted coalition with People First.

But Khupe downplayed the rift between her and Chamisa when the Daily News contacted her yesterday.

“Leaders were elected at congress. Chamisa contested and lost to (Douglas) Mwonzora, but we appointed him to the national executive. So, why would we want him out now?” she asked rhetorically.

“It does not make sense, does it? We talk a lot with Chamisa, even in Parliament. As the vice president of the party, I talk to all party members so we have a cordial relationship,” Khupe added.

Tsvangirai’ current mandate runs until 2018 and the MDC leader has not stifled leadership renewal debates within the party, but has instead called for internal discourse within party structures and not through the media.

The Daily News has also been told, including by people close to Chamisa, that Tsvangirai has consistently rebuffed calls to either haul over the coals or expel the Kuwadzana legislator. Daily News