Incoming MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has been dealt with a blow in his bid to organise the extraordinary congress as the current MDC-T Secretary General Nixon Nyikadzino is refusing to leave the position. Mwonzora wants to act on the Supreme Court judgement that ruled that MDC Alliance Nelson Chamisa’s rise to the leadership of the MDC-T was illegitimate and therefore the party is required to hold and extraordinary congress using the February 2018 structures within three months to elect substantive leaders.
How did Nixon Nyikadzino become secretary general
Nyikadzino was elected secretary general in April 2018 when the MDC-T held its congress after the death of Morgan Tsvangirai. Nyikadzino firmly believes he is the substantive secretary general and there is no need to go for an extra-ordinary congress. Upon Tsvangirai’s death, Nelson Chamisa rose to power after the national council of the party endorsed his leadership. He wrestled it from two other Tsvangirai Deputies, Elias Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe.
Nyikadzino’s words
The supreme court judgment as delivered on the 31st of March 2020 ordered that the MDC-T convenes an extraordinary congress for the purposes of filling the position of the President of the party to finish off the term of office of the late president of the party Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
Whereas there are many challenges associated with implementing this judgment, I wish to state that as the Secretary-General of the MDC-T, as elected on the 23rd of April 2018 at an ordinary congress of the party, I have taken note of the judgment and acknowledge the directives therein
In continuing to execute my responsibilities as the Secretary-General of the party, I shall advise stakeholders on the path the party will be following.
I am cognizant of the fact that we contested the 2018 harmonized elections as the MDC-T and at bare minimum managed to secure a seat for a Member of Parliament in the Lower House as well as a Senatorial seat.
I shall be communicating the party position with regards to these deployments within the next few days.
As such, please note that there is only one Secretary-General of the MDC-T as elected at the said congress on the 23 of April 2018, which was legally convened, and attended by bona fide members of our party – the MDC-T. Be guided accordingly.