MDC president Nelson Chamisa intends to keep all three vice presidents, as he looks to the 2023 election in which the Constitution provides for a running mate, NewZimbabwe.com claims.
An official who spoke to the publication had this to say:
The election of three deputy presidents is in keeping with our social democratic roots. The idea is to have functional vice presidents like one in-charge of international relations, another administration and so forth.
However, another senior MDC official said that the move is political chicanery. He said:
Its political chicanery. Three vice presidents will give him room to play one against the other and the chance to have one of his on close to him.
If only one is elected, they automatically become the running mate in the coming elections and that provides for another centre of power.
But in the envisaged scenario the run-up to the elections in 2023 the president will then appoint from the three a running mate of his choice.
But all this is subject to ratification by the national council.
The party’s national spokesperson, Jacob Mafume, revealed that the MDC will maintain the current scenario with the praesidium. Said Mafume:
Currently there are three vice presidents. That has not changed. It will continue as is unless the national council decided otherwise.
More: NewZimbabwe.com