The Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe party began its two-day elective congress Friday with former energy minister Elton Mangoma being endorsed as the party leader.
Close to 2,000 delegates are attending the RDZ inaugural congress.
Mangoma, who was not challenged for the position of party president, told VOA Studio 7 that four people, including him, were elected unopposed.
Beauty Kerr, who was a member of the MDC Renewal Team, was elected Mangoma’s deputy while Trust Chikohora, an IT specialist, who was the interim secretary general was confirmed substantively to the same position
Mangoma told said that congress delegates would discuss the party’s proposed constitution and map the party’s strategy for national elections expected in 2018.
The former energy minister said RDZ was ready to form a coalition for elections with parties that share the same values with his party although he says time is not yet ripe for such a coalition.
He urged President Robert Mugabe to choose his successor saying age was now taking its toll on him.
Meanwhile, Pishai Muchauraya, who landed the position of party spokesperson without any contest, said the RDZ membership is growing every day, adding that some un-named parliamentarians were working with his party. The RDZ does not have any representation in parliament.
Fortune Munyonga, who was elected to the position of youth president, said his immediate task is to mobilize youths countrywide so that they participate in national processes.
The RDZ congress is expected to end Saturday with a full national executive committee being elected into office.
Your browser doesn’t support HTML5
Thomas Chiripasi Reports on Elton Mangoma's RDZ Party's Inaugural Congress