By Patience Maganzo
Harare, Zimbabwe (News Of The South) -The city of Progress, Gweru, is painted red as the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)’s 5th congress kicked off on the 24th of May, with youths and women’s assembles elections. The congress is running under the theme ‘Defining a new course for Zimbabwe’. Yesterday was more explosive as delegates as far as Uganda graced the congress with their presence.
Ascot stadium roared into life as the President of MDC, Nelson Chamisa arrived with Robert Kygulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, who is a leader of the opposition party in Uganda.
The crowd also applauded Chief Ndiweni, whose popularity grew due to his refusal to bend a knee to the ruling party of Zimbabwe. He took to the stage shortly after the party chairperson Thabitha Khumalo. In a manner of conveying respect, he asked the crowd to raise to their feet and observe a moment of silence for the fallen hero, Dumiso Dabengwa, who passed away on Thursday in Kenya.
Chief Ndiweni then delivered a powerful speech saying “Our judicial let us down, the legitimacy issue gives us a vote of no confidence in the arena…Our country is going through a terrible time, everything that can go wrong has gone wrong, nothing is going right”.
The chief is being accused of being an MDC loyalist, but in response to his critics, he says “Chiefs must not engage in party politics because I am law abiding, what I am doing here is engaging in current affairs and fact finding.”
Boby Wine lamented on the unfulfilled hopes and unfulfilled dreams saying “it is the story of Africa” He believes Chamisa is the hope of the nation who will pioneer unspeakable change throughout the continent. “Chamisa has shaken not only Zimbabwe, but the rest of Africa”.
Various steps were taken by those opposing the main opposition party in Zimbabwe, but the MDC congress took off as planned. Following the nullification of Chamisa’s leadership of MDC, he appealed against the high court judgement, in order to progress with the congress that had already been scheduled to take place in Gweru.
On Saturday, the congress started on a hiccup as there was transport problems due to the fuel shortages currently affecting the Country. However the party supporters pulled through against all odds and the stadium roared to life with politicians campaigning for the last time before voting commenced. They sang and cheered for their favourite candidates who were running for vice presidency amongst other positions.
The day did not go well for the Member of Parliament of the Norton Constituency, Honourable Themba Mliswa who had the unfortunate event of being booed by the crowd whilst delivering his speech.
“It is time that the two, Nelson Chamisa and Mnangagwa sit together and talk. The people have suffered enough and I believe a dialogue between these two will turn things for better. That is the only meaningful dialogue that can change our prospects.” His message however fell on deaf ears, as the party supporters booed him for mentioning that the President of Zimbabwe was part of the solution.
Nelson Chamisa who came after Mliswa managed to calm the crowd and even scorned them for that behaviour, saying “You are doing exactly what we are trying to fight, intolerance.” Chamisa went on to deliver his speech which explained the path the party is going to take after congress. He promised massive demonstrations which will force the ruling Government to the negotiating table in order to have dialogue and fix the economic meltdown.
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