MDC Masvingo 2014 structures reject reinstatement

… as province endorses Chamisa

… ‘Mwonzora has sold the
struggle’

Upenyu Chaota

The contentious Supreme Court
judgement, which took MDC-T back to its 2014 structures and nullified the
ascendancy of Nelson Chamisa to the presidency of the party after the death of
Morgan
Tsvangirai, has found no takers in Masvingo, with the 2014 structures pledging
support for Chamisa.

The Supreme Court judgement
recognised Thokozani Khupe as the true leader of the MDC-T which was a key
stakeholder in the electoral pact of the MDC Alliance heading into the 2018
harmonised polls.

Though Khupe broke away and contested
the 2018 elections with her own party, the Supreme Court made her the
legitimate leader of her former party and fissures have started to show at the
top echelons of the biggest opposition movement.

Douglas Mwonzora, the 2014
secretary general of the MDC has taken control of the driver’s seat stamping
his authority.

In Masvingo, the 2014 structures
which were led by provincial chairperson James Gumbi retained most positions
during the 2019 district and provincial congresses but were later on suspended
by Chamisa for allegedly failing to properly lead the province.

Mwonzora, however, this week told
TellZim News that the Gumbi executive was off the hook and was back in charge
of the province.

“Every decision made by Chamisa
has been nullified. All suspensions have been reversed and leaders are back to
their duties,” said Mwonzora.

Gumbi, however, told TellZim News
that they recognised only Chamisa as their leader; adding that they will not be
‘led astray by blind people’.

“Mwonzora should not drag us into
their trivial fights. We have one leader and we remain loyal to president
Chamisa. The executive which I led since 2014 is no longer existent that the
one that came in 2019 is currently on suspension on the orders of president
Chamisa and we will not be fooled into believing otherwise.

“We follow what president Chamisa
says and until he says we have been cleared we remain on suspension,” said
Gumbi.

He said Chamisa was their leader
and the whole country is pinning its hopes on him to lead them to the ‘promised
land’. Every struggle has one visionary. We had Morgan Tsvangirai and we walked
with him. God decided to take him from us and the vision was passed on to
Chamisa and he will lead us.

“If two people think that they
have a vision then there will be division. We should not betray our people by
engaging in petty fights.

“Khupe has her party and I do not
see why she wants to come back to ours. Mwonzora and his team have betrayed the
struggle. It is a shame,” said Gumbi.