Mudzuri falls by the wayside

party heavyweights, principally erstwhile organising secretary Elias Mudzuri, fall by the wayside as different factions positioned themselves for power struggles that obsevers say are likely after the anticipated national elections.
Mr Nelson Chamisa, with heavy behind the scenes backing from party leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, easily beat Mr Elias Mudzuri to land the organising secretary’s position.
Mr Chamisa garnered 2 600 votes against Mr Mudzuri’s 707 votes.
Mr Mudzuri was the biggest causality of the congress after he failed to secure a position even in the national executive.
MDC-T deputy president Thokozani Khupe, secretary general Mr Tendai Biti and national chairman Lovemore Moyo retained their positions.
Ms Khupe walloped Ms Thabitha Khumalo, who garnered a mere 99 votes and Mr Norman Mabhena who managed 347 votes against the deputy president’s 3 047.
Mr Biti outpolled Mr Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, widely believed to be a close ally of Mr Tsvangirai and a member of the so called “kitchen cabinet”, garnering 2 850 votes with the latter getting 764 votes.
Mr Biti is deputised by Mr Tapiwa Mashakada who beat three other aspirants – Mr Gift Chimanikire, Mr Bekithemba Mpofu and Ms Paurina Gwanyanya-Mpariwa.

Mr Mashakada managed over 2 000 votes against Mr Chimanikire’s 631, Mpofu (214) and Mpariwa (318).
Mr Moyo got 3 040 votes against Ms Lucia Matibenga’s 566 votes to retain the chairmanship of the party.
Self-exiled Roy Bennett was elected unopposed to the position of treasurer general.
Mr Bennett is now staying in South Africa and it was not clear why his position went uncontested.
The only other candidate who retained his position uncontested is Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, whose nomination by provinces was endorsed by the congress.
Although under the MDC-T constitution Mr Tsvangirai should step down having served his maximum of two terms, the MDC-T contends that the former trade unionist was the brand and face of the party and should get another term at the helm of the party.
Deputising Mr Bennett is Mr Elton Mangoma who defeated Ms Sekai Holland and Mr Sam Sipepa Nkomo for the post.
The deputy orgainising secretary’s position went to Mr Abednigo Bhebhe who defeated Mr Thamsanqa Mahlangu in a closely contested election.
Mr Bhebhe got 1 994 votes against Mr Mahlangu’s 1 321.
Former deputy organising secretary Mr Morgan Komichi landed the deputy chairmanship post after beating Mr Alexio Musundire and Mr Blessing Chebundo in an election that had 1 000-spoilt ballot papers.
Mr Douglas Mwonzora is now the new MDC-T spokesperson after landing the secretary for information and publicity post, defeating Mr Tongai Mathuthu.
The elections, which were marred by a lot of irregularities, were presided over by the National Constitutional Assembly chairperson Professor Lovemore Madhuku.
Some names of candidates were either missing or wrongly spelt on the ballot papers.
Closing the congress, Mr Tsvangirai echoed the same sentiments though he appeared to be making a U-turn on how to deal with the violence.
He said he was going to visit each province and identify violence perpetrators yet only two days before the MDC-T leader had pledged to set an independent commission of inquiry to deal with the matter.
Mr Tsvangirai publicly told delegates on Thursday that the party leadership had the names and pictures of all those who engaged in violence and promised to expel them from MDC-T at the end of the congress.
It did not happen.
“On the question of indiscipline and violence in the party, I shall come to your provinces to investigate and identify the culprits . . . There shall be no sacred cows. Now it is time to act,” said Mr Tsvangirai.
Ironically on Friday Mr Tsvangirai had blamed Zanu-PF for the violence, alleging infiltration by the revolutionary party.