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Thursday 7 October 2010

Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai Hangs on to Party Post

The PM says he will not relinquish his post as MDC leader next year in accordance with the party’s constitution.

By Eric Sande

Harare---Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, is obligated to relinquish his position as leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) next year, in accordance with the party’s original constitution allowing him to hold office for a maximum of two term limit of five years each. Tsvangirai is reported to have since insisted he will not step down the MDC presidency.

The party however has dismissed the reports as “false, malicious” and claimed they were deliberately aimed at sowing the “seeds of confusion, despondency and uncertainty in the country”.

Tsvangirai is said to be ready to make way for a new leader but stay on as head of state if he manages to win Presidential elections widely expected to be held next year.

Recent opinion polls put Tsvangirai ahead of the pack with 32 per cent as his rival President Mugabe  trails a distance second with 18 per cent.

Analysts say Tsvangirai could be forced to relinquish his party position but still continue to lead government should he win the presidential ballot. This comes when MDC passed a binding resolution that would see Tsvangirai relinquish power during the party’s third congress.

A statement released on Friday October 1 stated, “For the avoidance of confusion, the MDC shall hold its congress in line with the dictates of the Party’s constitution and as re-emphasised by the National Council at its last meeting in Kadoma,”.

Tsvangirai’s departure from active politics is likely to destabilize the party and its key leadership putting in mind that he has been at the helm of his party, founded in 1999 along with other civil society leaders, for more than 11 years.

The party’s spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa said, "We are a democratic movement and we believe in constitutions and constitutionalism. The constitution was never changed and it will not be changed. We believe in (democratic) change and not changing constitutions."

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