Parly ruling on MDC-T wrangle in two days

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda says he will make a ruling in the next two days on the MDC-T dispute which has spilled into parliament.

The MDC-T is embattled in a leadership wrangle with the party's Secretary General, Tendai Biti leading a leadership renewal team, seeking the ouster of party President, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mr Biti and his team held a meeting at Mandel Training Centre in Harare that expelled Mr Tsvangirai and his top executive that includes Deputy President Thokozani Khupe, National Organising Secretary Nelson Chamisa and party Spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora, among others.

Mr Biti then wrote to the speaker, seeking protection of the legislators associated with his faction from being recalled.

The Tsvangirai faction countered the move by also writing to the same speaker, arguing that Mr Biti had no legal mandate to do so as the leader of the opposition in parliament is the party's Deputy President Khupe.

The faction announced the expulsion of the Biti faction, which also has former Energy Minister, Elton Mangoma.

Parliament resumes sitting on May 13 and by that time, the ruling is expected to have been made.

Experts have however warned that the speaker might not be able to resolve the dispute without involving the courts.

Precedence also shows that when the MDC first split in 2005, members of parliament from both factions continued in their roles until the March 2008 elections.