The MDC Youth Assembly has shut doors on party Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora and vice President Elias Mudzuri who have been angling to take over the party leadership at the forthcoming congress by declaring their support for the current leader Nelson Chamisa to continue his reign.
In an interview with 263Chat soon after their press briefing at the party headquarters today, National Youth Assembly chairperson, Happymore Chidziva said they had settled to support Chamisa to continue his reign.
“There is no room for animosity at the party’s forthcoming congress and as a democratic party anyone is allowed to contest for any position as long as they meet the constitutional thresholds. As the outgoing youth secretary our position is that we support our President Advocate Nelson Chamisa to get a fresh mandate to lead the party. To us, he has shown the capacity beyond to just lead the party but the country as a whole. So we support him 100 percent,” said Chidziva.
Chidziva further watered down chances of Mwonzora getting support from Manicaland, saying the province had set the record straight that Chamisa is the man of the moment.
“It was a clear sign that need no explanation. Of course the President had to intervene and call our supporters to order but they are clear as to who should take charge of the party affairs,” Chidziva said.
The combative MDC youth leader was however evasive on which portfolio he will be vying for but insisted they are championship for youthful party members to get stakes in key positions at the elective congress.
“MDC has a culture. Our constitution is clear. Anyone who wishes to contest for this post must be 35 years and below. This is the reason I am not going for any position in the youth assembly. But you will see a very vibrant radical youth assembly post congress,” he added.
Mwonzora has previously appeared on local radio stations saying he will contest for any position he is nominated for but fresh reports indicate that he could have chickened out after he was booed by party supporters at the Mutare rally.
