Staff ReporterThe leader of Movement for Democratic Change, Nelson Chamisa has had to read the riot act to intolerant elements within his party.
This comes as some members of the MDC continue to make reckless public comments about the main opposition’s elective congress scheduled for May.
The run up to the May congress has been fraught with threats and intimidation with some elements in the MDC aligning any persons hoping to challenge Chamisa for the top post in MDC to Zanu-PF.
Party secretary general Douglas Mwonzora recently came under fire from some party members who feel Chamisa should not be challenged for the top post at congress.
The move which political commentators have condemned as undemocratic has caused unrest within the MDC as Chamisa’s backers have openly threatened to block the Mwonzora’s bid to contest to be leader of the MDC.
The attacks on Mwonzora have not been limited to rank and file but they have also come from top party leaders, who include current Vice President Morgen Komichi and Tendai Biti, who have linked Mwonzora to Zanu PF in an apparent bid to muzzle him and force him not to challenge Chamisa.
The current disdainful attitude towards a democratic electoral contest exhibited by Chamisa’s backers has courted public ridicule to a party that claims to champion democracy. Political commentators and observers recalled the rise of Chamisa to power and the way in which he grabbed power soon after the death of founding MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai February last year.
The 41 year-old MDC leader is keen to end negative perception around his controversial rise to the helm of the party in what many believe could be a stroll towards keeping his job.
He told journalists that he will not tolerate his backers threatening his rivals anymore
