Factionalism will kill MDC-T says Khuphe

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change party will lose the next elections if infighting continues, a top official has warned.

MDC Vice President Thokozani Khupe said members were digging the grave of the party by continuing to fight each other.

Addressing a training workshop for MDC mayors and councillors from Matabeleland and Midlands regions on Friday in Bulawayo, Khupe said the party's top hierarchy was worried about deepening divisions.

"We should have a unity of purpose and stop fighting, as this will kill our party. I tell you, if we go into next elections divided, it will be disaster for us.  Divisions are not taking us anywhere," said Khupe, who is also Deputy Prime Minister in the fragile coalition government.

She said Zanu PF takes advantage of a divided MDC. The MDC was rocked by serious divisions in most provinces towards the party's national congress last year as members positioned themselves for senior positions.

In Bulawayo Province, violence erupted between supporters of two factions one led by State Enterprises minister Gordon Moyo and another led by Mzilikazi senator Matson Hlalo.

Deputy minister of Local Government Sessel Zvidzai, who is also the party secretary for local government and was leading the training programme, told the Daily News the MDC wants all its mayors and councillors to shun corruption.

"We are teaching our councillors on transparency. We do not want corruption in the MDC, corruption is for Zanu PF. We want our councillors to serve the people and not to enrich themselves. We are doing this countrywide," Zvidzai said.

MDC dominates urban and rural councils but the party has been rocked with allegations of corruption in almost all the local authorities it is running.