JOHANNESBURG The South African wing of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirais MDC party says it has begun mobilising Zimbabwean migrants here to prepare to return home in large numbers to vote President Robert Mugabe out of office in elections expected this year.The 86-year old leader has said he will stand in the elections that he says must take place by June this year.
But speculation is rife that the polls to choose a new government to replace the troubled coalition government formed by Mugabe, Tsvangirai and deputy premier Arthur Mutambara in 2009 mighty have to take place much later in the year or even in 2011 because a new constitution that should precede the ballot is expected to be completed only after next September.
MDC organising secretary in South Africa said last week that his party would drum up support from the estimated 1.5 million Zimbabweans here to ensure that they go back home to vote in huge numbers against Mugabe and his Zanu (PF) party.
“As we mobilise for the MDC-T vote mid this year, our chapter here (South Africa) is set to hold its congress on March 11-12 in Durban.
“People are fed up with Mugabe and his regime. We need a new constitution first so that free and fair polls are contested, otherwise Mugabe does not stand any chance this time around,” said Mudarikwa.
Meanwhile Mudarikwa said the South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and South African Communist Party (SACP) were expected to attend the MDC-T congress set for the city of Durban as observers.
ANC chairman and premier for KwaZulu Natal, Zweli Mkhize, will be representing ANC at the congress.
According to Mudarikwa, a high powered MDC-T delegation from Harare comprising national party chairman Lovemore Moyo, newly elected national chairwoman Theresa Makone, national youth chairman Thamsqanga Mhlanga and exiled deputy agriculture minister Roy Bennett are expected to supervise the elective congress.
MDC-T chairman for South Africa Austin Moyo appears likely to easily retain his post since there are no challengers yet to come forward, while party spokesman and veteran journalist Sibanengi Dube is vying for the secretary’s position against the incumbent William Mabona.
Mudarikwa also looks certain to win back his post uncontested and so are women’s chair Barbra Nyandoro and secretary Alice Mhlanga.
However, there is expected to be stiff competition between deputy chairman Kunaka Nhira and the challenger from Durban, Nhamo Chikowore.
Veteran political activist Remember Moyo will battle it out with Vixon Mundeya for the deputy secretarys position while treasurer Amon Ndlovu does not have any challengers to this present moment.
Post published in: News