Eric Chapanduka |I take this opportunity to congratulate  Hon  Nelson Chamisa on the occasion of his appointment to the office of the vice president of the Mdct party. His appointment was what many people hoped for .Gifted with composure of mind, elected as a member of parliament trained as a lawyer his countenance has never been sad. Nelson you are now the watchtower over many people in proverbs 16vs 7 “when a man’s ways please the lord He maketh his enemies to be at peace with him”. The distinguished and honoured nelson is a man of faith ,the  exercise of his faith is seen at rallies, in church and in parliament.
Hon Chamisa’s path had some interruptions, but those ripened him for a higher position. I remember when he yielded to the controversial SG results, God had already designed his passage .It was a design of the wishes of many people .These are the works of wonder. Chamisa’s persuasion is very strong .He has a national appeal and is an elected member of parliament. I also take this opportunity to congratulate Hon Mudzuri for his appointment to the office of vice president of the mdct party .
The outcome of the national council meeting was a substantial reality of the wishes of many. Furthermore, appointments by President Tsvangirai after a recommendation from the national council underscore that the appointment process was above board.
But one fascinating point that has emerged from across the political divide is the points being raised by others especially those about the tribal makeup of the presidium .I do not think any party should do a tribal impact study before any appointment. Every tribe shares the Zimbabwean nationality .These appointments do not deprive any tribe but they add value to tackling the national crisis. There is no tribal discrimination inherent in the appointments whatsoever. My feeling is for our society to be harmonious and cohesive, people should be chosen on merit rather than tribal origin.
There was absolutely no discrimination against any tribe .It may be necessary to examine the appointment process to discover if there was any discrimination but even before that discovery and if people are  bothered by decision of national and that of the president they may as well be pacified by the tribal makeup of the national council itself  . However those of us in the Mdctparty should be the ones bothered more especially when people try to import tribal discrimination arguments from their parties into the mdct -appointments debate or discourse in order to score cheap political points, that to us, is mischievous and silly.
The mdct is a mass party .No tribe is at a comparative disadvantage because of these appointments .I do not see any tribe that was treated less favourably. Vice president Hon madam Khupe’s position is still the same .The positions of Vice president Hon Chamisa and Vice president Hon Mudzuri are not  representative of tribes  there are subordinate positions they are vice presidents of the party and are subordinate to the President and not representing regions as in the case of traditional chiefs . There was no discrimination on the grounds of gender vice president Hon Khupe still keeps her position.
There was no discrimination on tribal grounds .The president could have appointed anyone recommended by the national council regardless of their tribal origin. The appointments were not a bad design the country is in an acute national crises .I really do not see what motivates people in criticising everything our party does. Tsvangirayi is a great democratic fighter of our generation. Any criticism as long it is not progressive should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. People are free to say want they want and there is no limit as to what people can say the same way there is also no limit to confusion.
As the biggest opposition party in the country Mdct offers an alternative to  the current quagmire  people should  realise that the current economic quagmire has an alternative which needs a lot of responsibilities and hence the  appointments should be seen in that light but not as a case of tribal domination .Interestingly  ,it can be seen that when Hon Chamisa and Hon Mudzuri received the advantage of the honour of appointments to the presidium, Vice president Hon Khupe did not suffer any disadvantage to her post .
I think it is better to concentrate on the significance of the new appointments before one examines the concept of dilution. The significance of the new appointments does not lesson the validity of the previous vice presidential post otherwise we end up misleading the women nationally of gender discrimination and the Matabeleland voters of tribal discrimination .Misleading people is very dangerous. To be precise the appointments does not give rise to a situation where Hon madam Khupe’s post loses value.
The extent of the national crises requires a new approach and that approach should be urgent with a solution and the solution requires more responsibilities which required more people into the presidium and either by election or appointment but the extra responsibilities require new vice presidents to tackle those  new responsibilities and if those new vice presidents have new roles  it does not dilute the previous vice president’s role  and if that is the case then there should be  no fears .
There is no tribe that has been favoured after another in the case of these appointments and the same could have happened in the case of an election. However what has arisen is a new approach to tackle the acute national crises.
There is no imaginary danger in the party. President Tsvangirayi is excellent in the promotion of candour .He has allayed fears about any scare including that of his health .He is recovering well and the evidence can be seen by the naked eye.                                                                                                                                                                                                  When 4000 people died of cholera in 2008 a response to the crises was only coordinated under President Tsvangirayi’s  supervision. When the economy collapsed in 2008 it was the mdct that saved and rescued the nation. It is time for all the progressive forces to unite and save our nation.