Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader, Nelson Chamisa has expressed his readiness to play a leading role in mobilizing support for the MDC Alliance ahead of the 2018 elections while admitting to the challenge he faces in filling the boots of the late Morgan Tsvangirai.
Chamisa was substantively endorsed as the presidential candidate of the MDC Alliance in the forthcoming elections and will be in a two horse race with Zanu PF’s Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Addressing the media in the presence of other alliance principals, Chamisa said despite the daunting task that lies ahead of him, he was ready to give Mnangagwa and other presidential candidates a run for their money.
“My endorsement as the candidate for the Alliance comes at a time when I am expected to fill in the boots of a giant, an icon Morgan Tsvangirai. He was our best foot forward and I am being asked to carry forward that legacy but we will do everything to make sure that Zimbabwe gets the best of what it deserves.
“Its game for 2018, I am ready, Zimbabwe is ready and we are all ready to give Zanu PF a befitting sendoff from power. We need a new, young government that resonates well with how young our country is, as a result we are offering that to the country.
“We can assure you that we are ready to give our best short and its going to be an election of all elections. This is an election of our lifetime,” said Chamisa who has been tangled in power wrangle with the other two MDC-T Vice Presidents,Thokozani Khupe and Elias Mudzuri.
Khupe has since been given a seven day ultimatum to be in same boat with the party or face disciplinary action while Mudzuri seem to have joined forces with Chamisa.
Chamisa goes into the 2018 elections on the back of a highly expectant nation that has been starved of economic growth over the past 37 years under the leadership of Robert Mugabe.
Coincidentally, the 2018 elections will be the first election that Mugabe and Tsvangirai will not be on the ballot paper.
If elected, Chamisa promised to deal with unemployment which is estimated to be over 87%.
On his swearing in day on November 24 last year, Mnangagwa promised employment creation and revival of industries in his first 100 days.
“We want a modern country which is run by modern politicians and our pledge is to give modern politics and economics to the nation,” said Chamisa.
One of the leading MDC Alliance principles, Tendai Biti, expressed faith in the alliance saying they are expecting economic revival, upon election into power.
“The 2018 elections present a chance for the nation to take its rightful place among the economically sound nations of this world and that can be achieved through the leadership of Nelson Chamisa,” said Biti.
