With just two days before the watershed MDC-T national elective congress, a fierce battle looms in the party’s national youth wing where Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya is in contention with Promise Mkhwananzi and Solomon Madzore for the chairperson’s post.
Chibaya is the current national youth deputy chairperson.
The trio is set to contest the MDC-T’s national chairperson’s post at the party congress in Bulawayo on Thursday.
Although Bulawayo-based Mkhwananzi was yesterday upbeat he would land the post ahead of Chibaya and little-known Madzore, stakes were not in his favour.
As of Sunday afternoon, Mkhwananzi only had the backing of one province while Chibaya had eight provinces behind him.
Mkhwananzi told NewsDay his chances of landing the post were high despite the stiff challenge posed by Chibaya.
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“Nominations are not reflective of the opinion on the ground. The process is normally manipulated by incumbents on the ground because they want o retain their positions,” charged Mkhwananzi.
“My chances of winning are very good,” he said. “I have been travelling the length and breadth of the country and the support I have received everywhere is overwhelming. Today (Sunday), I was in Matabeleland North province and the youth have expressed an interest in nominating me but some people are trying to block that nomination. The only consolation I have is that the party supporters at district level have indicated that they are 100% behind me.”
But Chibaya immediately shot back: “I am already there. The Thursday elections will just be a formality. I already have the backing of almost all provinces.
“Anyway, it’s nice to contest because competition is healthy in a democracy but my victory is a foregone conclusion.”
Madzore, the current youth secretary-general, could not be reached for comment.