MDC-T enlists ZRP to maintain order at its HQ

The MDC-T has enlisted the services of the Zimbabwe Republic Police to maintain order and prevent an eruption of violence at Harvest House today.

Elton Mangoma, the MDC-T deputy treasurer, is awaiting a verdict on his future today as the MDC-T National Council leaders gather in Harare in a bid to put to rest calls for leadership renewal ripping the party apart.

All members of the National Council are meeting at Harvest House, the MDC-T headquarters in central Harare, where they are expected to draw up a proposal on Mangoma and his allies' future.

As the high-stake talks open in Harare, Mangoma's backers were planning to stage a protest at Harvest House against intra-party violence that has attracted harsh condemnation from Western diplomats and step up calls for Morgan Tsvangirai's departure.

The meeting comes as Mangoma has stoked tension with stark words in a fresh letter seen as escalating the  push to remove Tsvangirai, who is now gunning for an extraordinary congress to put the matter to rest.

Tsvangirai's allies have dismissed any talk of his departure and called for "concrete and decisive action" against Mangoma.

On the other hand, Mangoma claims to be moving to step-up calls to halt the violence that has spilled into the courts, netting at least five party youths.