'Chamisa more popular compared to Tsvangirai'

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has playing down his late predecessor and founding party leader Morgan Tsvangirai's popularity compared to his own.

He was speaking to South African state broadcaster SABC in a wide-ranging interview.

"Morgan Tsvangirai got 1,2 million votes we got 2,6 million. The party has grown even bigger and now the biggest not only in Zimbabwe but on the continent," said Chamisa.

Chamisa ruled out the possibility or working with Mnangagwa.

"We must be able to protect the vote otherwise we will not be able to convince anyone to go to elections five years down the line. Our people have said ‘Mr Chamisa don't work with these people'.

"They are saying don't join hands with the crocodile (Mnangagwa's nickname), you will be drowned' like what happened to president Tsvangirai when he worked with Robert Mugabe, he was diluted, we were diluted, we ended up losing focus and manipulated out of power," Chamisa said.

Tsvangirai was forced into a coalition government with Mugabe despite him having won the first round of voting in March 2008.

Mugabe argued the opposition leader had failed to garner enough votes to assume power.

He then forced through a bloody run-off election which saw Tsvangirai pull out insisting a free and fair election was nolonger possible under an orgy of state sponsored violence.