Correspondent|MDC Alliance secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora says he is undecided on the position he will contest for at his party’s elective congress next year, despite speculation that he is gunning for the coalition’s presidency.

He did not categorically state the position in which he will contest but he kept his options wide open and is not restricting himself to a particular position.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mwonzora said he was still undecided on the position he would contest for.

He however made it clear that as a party member he had the right to contest for any position.

“At that congress any position is open for contest I really have not yet made up my mind regarding which position I will contest when congress comes,” he said.

Mwonzora’s statement comes amid speculative reports of a widening rift between him and MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa.

“I have read speculative reports in the newspapers and that still remains speculation but I have my rights as a member of the party and the rights I know I have include the right to elect office bearers or to be elected as an office bearer so I will make my decision when the time comes,” said Mwonzora who was keeping his wide options open.

Political analyst Alexander Rusero said Mwonzora would have to tread carefully towards the party’s 2019 congress as any message could be (mis)interpreted as a threat.

“So long as Mwonzora is still around Chamisa will continue to see shadows, so one way or another if Mwonzora is quiet he is suspected, if he says something he is also suspected.

“He is in a precarious position and has to play his cards close to his chest or risk finding himself in the political wilderness,” he said.

Rusero said Mwonzora’s decisive win for the secretary general post in 2014 over Chamisa’s bid is still fresh in the opposition leader’s mind.

“Mwonzora is very shrewd he is not a fly by night politician and as long as Mwonzora is in MDC he will always pose the greatest challenge for Chamisa, because Chamisa is still being hounded, traumatised by the dismal defeat he suffered at Mwonzora’s hands for the secretary general’s post in 2014,” Rusero said.

Despite, his 2014 loss to Mwonzora, Chamisa controversially became leader of the MDC Alliance shortly after the death of MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

His rise to power was contentious and led to the the break away of Thokozani Khupe and subsequent formation of MDC-T.

M&T