Chamisa Plans To Charm MDC Veterans To Win Back Power

By Staff Reporter
|
32527
|
April 13, 2020

The MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa is on a charm offensive to lure back some of the party’s founder members that fell by the wayside during previous splits as the battle for the soul of the country’s largest opposition party gathers pace.

Chamisa’s rivals in the MDC Alliance Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi a fortnight ago threw their weight behind MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe after the Supreme Court ruled that the main opposition party’s 2018 presidential election candidate was not the legitimate leader of the party.

Khupe was given the mandate to organise an extraordinary congress within three months to elect a successor to the party’s founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai using the 2014 structures.

Chamisa has remained mum about the judgement, but MDC Alliance insiders said his lieutenants were hard at work pushing to pull the rug from under the former deputy prime minister’s feet by wooing the party’s founder members to fight in his corner.

MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende confirmed that some former party members had shown interest in recent weeks to retrace their footsteps to Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House.

Hwende said a committee led by the party’s deputy president Welshman Ncube had been tasked to handle the issue,
“On day-to-day basis, we receive enquiries from former members and some of them from the MDC-T who want to come to the MDC Alliance and we have set-up a committee, which is led by vice-president Welshman Ncube, which also includes the national chairperson [Thabitha Khumalo] to deal mostly with former senior members who want to come back to the party,” he said. “Without mentioning the names of the people, yes, I can confirm that there are a lot of former members who have indicated their interest to come back to the party.

“The politics is clear that someone is either with Zanu-PF or MDC and we are calling for the people to join the MDC Alliance.”

Some of the former heavyweights whose names have been mentioned among those interested in joining the MDC Alliance are former Speaker of the House of Assembly Lovemore Moyo, who now leads the United Movement for Devolution (UMD), MDC-T chairman Abednicho Bhebhe, former Water and Climate minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, and top leadership of Zapu. Sipepa Nkomo said he was aware of the engagements, but dismissed claims that he was about to rejoin the MDC Alliance or politics.

“I know what you are talking about; politicians are talking about supporting Chamisa, but me as Sipepa Nkomo, you know that I retired from active politics. I am not going back into politics, I am retired,” Nkomo said.

“When I retired, I met Chamisa and I told him that I have been in politics for 50 years and I am retiring. “I also told him that I would always be open to be approached for consultation and advice.”

Moyo said officials from across the political divide in Matabeleland had been talking of strategies to defend their territory and push for the development of the region in the face of prolonged marginalisation since independence.

“It’s certainly not true that I am joining the MDC Alliance,” he said. “I am a president of UMDC, how can I join another party?

“What I really know is that Matabeleland politicians have been talking and talking to someone does not mean you are joining him.

“It is a long process up to 2023. We talk to everyone except Zanu-PF and it does not mean that when you talk to Zapu you are joining it. “We are going to collaborate with any political party as long as it supports devolution.

“We had conversations in the past month and, yes, I am aware there could be some members going back to MDC Alliance.

“I go into talks with different parties ahead of 2023 and our idea is that we must not split votes.” Bhebhe said he was in support of all opposition parties uniting.

“I am for the united opposition to end the suffering of the people,” he said.

“Zimbabwe has been in turmoil for the past 40 years and it is sad that people jump from party to party looking for jobs. “I have seen people saying they want me to be their MP in this party or that. I have passed that stage.

‘I am a businessman by the way, I earn far much better than an MP sitting in Parliament.

“I am tired of people saying I am this party, I belong to that party when it does not help the country anyhow.”

Category:
News
Update

Info News

Cyber Liability Insurance for Small Businesses

Cyberattacks are not only a problem for large companies. Small businesses can also face phishing, ransomware, data theft, and system outages. Cyber liability insurance helps protect businesses from financial losses caused by cyber incidents.

A cyber insurance policy may help cover data breach response, legal fees, customer notification, credit monitoring, ransomware recovery, and business interruption.

Why Small Businesses Need Cyber Protection

Hackers often target small businesses because they may have weaker security. A single data breach can damage customer trust and create major expenses.

Data breach insurance can help businesses respond quickly when sensitive information is exposed.

What to Look For

When comparing cyber insurance, review coverage limits, exclusions, ransomware coverage, incident response support, and security requirements.

Final Thoughts

Cyber liability insurance is an important part of modern business protection. Every business that stores customer data, uses email, or accepts online payments should consider cyber coverage.

Asylum Lawyer: How Legal Help Can Strengthen an Asylum Case

Asylum cases are deeply personal and legally complex. Many applicants are fleeing danger, persecution, threats, violence, or serious harm.

But fear alone is not enough. An asylum case must be prepared carefully under U.S. immigration law.

An asylum lawyer can help explain eligibility, organize evidence, prepare testimony, and represent applicants before USCIS or immigration court.

What Is Asylum?

Asylum is a form of protection for people who fear persecution in their home country based on protected legal grounds.

These cases may involve persecution connected to:

Race
Religion
Nationality
Political opinion
Membership in a particular social group

The facts must be presented clearly and supported with evidence when available.

What Does an Asylum Lawyer Do?

An asylum lawyer may help with:

Eligibility review
Application preparation
Personal declaration
Evidence gathering
Country condition research
Witness statements
Translation issues
Interview preparation
Immigration court representation
Work permit timing questions
Appeals
Related family applications

Asylum law is detailed, and small inconsistencies may create credibility problems.

Affirmative Asylum vs. Defensive Asylum

Affirmative Asylum

This is usually filed with USCIS by someone who is not currently in removal proceedings.

Defensive Asylum

This is usually raised as a defense in immigration court after the person is placed in removal proceedings.

If immigration court is involved, the case becomes more formal and deadline-driven.

Why Evidence Matters

Strong asylum cases often include:

Personal statement
Identity documents
Police reports
Medical records
Photos
Threat messages
News articles
Human rights reports
Witness letters
Political or religious membership proof
Country condition evidence

Not every applicant has every type of evidence. A lawyer can help explain missing evidence and organize what is available.

Personal Declaration

The personal declaration is one of the most important parts of an asylum case.

It should explain:

Who you are
What happened
Who harmed or threatened you
Why you were targeted
Whether you reported it
Why your government could not or would not protect you
Why relocation inside your country is not safe
What you fear if returned

A lawyer can help make the declaration clear, detailed, and consistent with the law.

Asylum Interview Preparation

For affirmative asylum, the applicant may attend an asylum interview.

A lawyer can help prepare for questions about:

Timeline
Past harm
Fear of future harm
Protected ground
Family history
Travel history
Prior applications
Documents
Inconsistencies

Honesty is critical. Do not exaggerate or invent facts.

Asylum in Immigration Court

If the case is in immigration court, the applicant may need to testify before a judge.

EOIR explains that in immigration court, the judge asks about allegations and charges in the Notice to Appear, and people should raise errors with the judge.

A lawyer can help prepare filings, exhibits, testimony, and legal arguments.

Common Asylum Mistakes

Avoid:

Missing deadlines
Submitting inconsistent information
Using poor translations
Leaving out important facts
Failing to update address
Ignoring court notices
Submitting fake documents
Not preparing for testimony
Failing to connect harm to a protected ground

A weak or inconsistent application can damage credibility.

Final Thoughts

An asylum lawyer can help transform a painful story into a legally organized case.

Asylum cases require truth, evidence, preparation, and legal strategy. If you fear returning to your country, do not rely on guesswork. Speak with a qualified immigration attorney or accredited legal representative as soon as possible.