MDC president Nelson Chamisa on Wednesday asked national standing committee members to read and interpret that party’s constitution.
This comes as there is contention over the dates for an elective Congress which some within the party want to be held early, while others want it to be held in October.
Newsday sources who were part of the meeting are quoted as saying:
Chamisa asked everyone to read the constitution and give their interpretation of when Congress should be held. Our constitution says Congress must be held every five years, but a special congress can be held in the event of a vacancy in the office of the president before his or her term expires.
While we all know that Chamisa was endorsed by the national council to take over as the substantive leader, it is important to note that it would be unhygienic to hold an extraordinary congress in the same year as a congress proper.
The president is actually right. He could call for an extraordinary congress today, get elected and then refuse to have his position contested in October. The fifth year for us began in November last year and anytime from then, we could have held our congress. It’s just a matter of logistics.