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Addressing diasporans gathered in the resort town of Victoria Falls for a Development Foundation for Zimbabwe (DFZ) conference on engaging the Diaspora on Friday night, Prof Mutambara said: “I am stepping down as the leader of my party MDC. I am not running — it’s done.

“We are going for a congress in January and I have said that I am not contesting for any party post but I will still be a member of the party.”

However, delegates were left with more questions than answers when Prof Mutambara said people should not be surprised to see him becoming the Head of State.

“I took a plunge and see where that took me; I became the president of MDC. After that I became the Deputy Prime Minister,” he said.

“Muchashama ndava Head of State because I am not going anywhere,” Prof Mutambara added.

The party would be electing a new leadership during their national congress to be held in Harare.

Political analysts have, however, taken the move by Prof Mutambara as a way of giving in to pressure from party members who want him out.

The announcement came a few hours after the MDC Harare province had announced that it was backing secretary-general Professor Welshman Ncube to take over the presidency at the congress.-Chronicle