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NewsDay

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MDC-T warring top-dogs face off

Politics
FIREWORKS are expected at two top leadership meetings of the main opposition MDC-T as rival camps come face to face for the first time following a social media fallout over a week ago.

FIREWORKS are expected at two top leadership meetings of the main opposition MDC-T as rival camps come face to face for the first time following a social media fallout over a week ago.

BY RICHARD CHIDZA

Internal fissures have continued to simmer within the MDC-T in the aftermath of a vicious congress fight last October particularly between then spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora and Nelson Chamisa, who was the organising secretary.

Insiders yesterday told NewsDay that the party’s standing committee and national executive committee will meet today and tomorrow at which the factional fights would be discussed.

“The issue of factionalism will be discussed and something will need to be done. It will be unhealthy if the party were to leave the situation as it is because tensions are almost reaching boiling point,” said a national executive member on condition of anonymity.

“It is an emotive issue that needs to be handled carefully and delicately for that matter or else it might explode in our faces.”

But party spokesperson Obert Gutu claimed factionalism was a “side-show”.

“These are routine meetings to discuss party business. We are the government-in-waiting and will concentrate our efforts on deposing the Zanu PF regime. We will not waste time on side-shows. The MDC is a united party and we are working on strengthening our structures,” said Gutu.

Matters came to a head last week when a routine social media group chat among top party leaders turned into a nasty exchange that exposed the deep-seated resentment carried over from the congress brought forward by two years following a second split inside a decade.

The exchanges were triggered by the appointment of Costa Machingauta as acting national organiser in Gweru last week reportedly at Mwonzora’s behest without the consent of other standing committee members.