NCA congress hangs in the balance

THE National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)’s first ever congress hangs in the balance because of differences within the party over fundamental issues.
The Financial Gazette can also reveal that the party is struggling to mobilise a respectable number of participants to attend the elective congress pencilled for March.
The NCA had a baptism of fire at the weekend in the first polls that it has participated in since it transformed into a political party last year.It lost in two council by-elections in Harare and Zaka and could not field a candidate in Karoi.
The council vacancies were necessitated by the deaths of sitting councillors.

ZANU-PF continued with its winning streak in the latest polls, inflicting more damage on its rivals, currently in disarray.
The decision to participate in the elections has precipitated discontentment within the NCA, led by Lovemore Madhuku in an interim capacity.

Two prominent members of the assembly, Takura Zhangazha and Blessing Vava have resigned from the party before it has even held its inaugural congress.
NCA insiders said the elective congress was now doubtful in view of the divisions dogging the party which have seen its allies expressing regret over the bickering.
MDC99 leader, Job Sikhala, said his party was dismayed by “childish echoes coming from our friends’ camp. I think they have noticed (with the polls) that the political trajectory is not a joke but serious business. But we urge them to dissuade themselves from unnecessary kindergarten fights and outbursts,” he said.

But Maddock Chivasa, the party’s spokesperson, put on a brave face on Tuesday, saying the congress was still on although the date may be subject to change.
“Our aim is to ensure that we are represented in every ward in the country before we go to congress and launch the party. Therefore our congress dates will be determined by progress made by the teams recruiting members,” he said.

“The departure of any member of the NCA is unfortunate but our understanding is that people can join NCA and they are also free to leave when they feel like doing so. As a party, we always wish well those who decide to leave the party in the same way we welcome those who join the party.”
Zhangazha has described the decision by the NCA’s interim leadership to participate in the council by elections without first establishing its formal structures, leadership, policy propositions and ideological premise as “recalcitrant”.

He said the NCA’s decision to pursue a path of political expediency with regards to electoral contest by way of local government by-elections may come to mean that this is what its new journey represents — expediency over and above principles and values.
“It is a marked departure from the original reasons why the NCA chose its initial 1997 formative journey, its 2000 and its 2013 ‘no vote’ campaigns,” Zhangazha wrote on his blog. — Staff Reporter.

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