MDC-T Bulawayo chairman survives violence plot

MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairman Gorden Moyo who is reportedly embroiled in a power battle with party vice president Thokozani Khuphe has survived a demonstration and possible violence against him from party youths.

Moyo wrote to the party leadership expressing that he wanted to take leave from political activity to concentrate on his studies a move widely viewed as escaping from the turmoil rocking the party.

Some party youths aligned to Khuphe had organised a demonstration against Moyo today when party leader Morgan Tsvangirai addresses a rally in Bulawayo's Stanley Square.

"The youths aligned to Khuphe wanted to pounce on Moyo and beat him up at the rally the same way that Elton Mangoma and Tendai Biti were manhandled at a rally in Harare," a party official said.

"It is believed among the Khuphe camp that Moyo is part of a leadership renewal movement that includes Biti and Mangoma. However, taking leave from political activities means that he might not even come for the rally that will be addressed by Tsvangirai escaping the plots against him."

MDC-T spokesperson Mandla Sibanda however denied any plots had been made against Moyo.

 "There is no rift because Khuphe is senior and Moyo is junior and appreciates his leadership. We had a rally last Saturday that went well and then people say there is a rift. We will soon find the people who are coming to tell you these things about our party," Sibanda said.