MDC president elect Nelson Chamisa tore into his party’s ousted secretary general Douglas Mwonzora whom he described as ‘unlikable’ and ‘not given a mandate to lead by the people’ at the just ended party elective congress in the Midlands capital of Gweru on Monday.
Prior to the elective congress, Mwonzora had hinted that he had interests to challenge the charismatic youthful leader to lead the main opposition in the country but however he later withdrew his candidature for presidency and opted for the post of secretary general which he lost to Kuwadzana East legislator Charlton Hwende.
“I for one ,I was touched when I got the nomination from you, i was not thinking that I will get the nomination ,I thought maybe you would give one to my colleague who really wanted it,I mean my brother Dougie (Douglas Mwonzora),” said Chamisa who was clear about the identity of his ‘target’.
Chamisa went on to say that people should expect to be given the mandate to lead in an insinuation that Mwonzora was unpopular.
“My brother Douglas (Mwonzora) really wanted it but you then did not give him and in our party we always say it is not enough to want power , people must tell you to take the power, leaders are deployed by you,” added Chamisa.
Chamisa lost elections to Mwonzora for the secretary general position in 2014 and his scornful statement might have been motivated by that history.
According to insiders in the MDC, Mwonzora’s next move is not yet so clear as he always plays his cards close to his chest.
“Mwonzora is unpredictable his next move is not known, remember that the man is intelligent he always play his cards close to his chest and I am telling you that he might stay in the party and be deployed somewhere in the party or he might decide to move on,” said a source in the party.
After the announcement of the results, Mwonzora reportedly left Ascot Stadium in a huff.
Efforts to speak to Mwonzora proved fruitless as his mobile phone was
not reachable by the time of publishing on Monday.