Call for MDC-T ceasefire

CHURCHES have waded into the MDC-T crisis with leaders urging the warring parties in the faction-riddled MDC-T to reconsider dialogue as part of the resolution to the crisis in the country's main opposition.

The MDC-T is presently embroiled in bitter turmoil after a faction led by secretary-general Tendai Biti held a meeting in Harare where they proceeded to "suspend" party leaders former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his top lieutenants which included vice-president Thokozani Khupe, Nelson Chamisa, Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora, Abednigo Bhebhe and Lovemore Moyo.

Tsvangirai and his faction responded by summarily expelling Biti and eight other members of Parliament for allegedly staging a "boardroom coup" exposing the once vibrant opposition party to another imminent split reminiscent of the infamous October 2005 fissure.

It is understood church leaders sympathetic to the MDC-T are privately pushing for dialogue in desperate attempts to avoid a fresh spilt.

Raymond Motsi, the chairperson of the Christian Alliance of Zimbabwe, whose main objective is to peacefully and permanently facilitate crisis resolution in the country, revealed the church grouping had since engaged the warring party officials in a bid to ease the tension that is straining the party.

Motsi said the disputes within the party were not necessary, adding that there was need for dialogue so that the party would achieve its major goal of bringing change in the country.

"MDC-T that lost to Zanu PF and failed to remain united has been fighting internally for a while now and it is time they reconsidered dialogue so that as a party they manage to achieve their major goal of bringing change in the country," he said.

Bishop Ancelimo Magaya, of the Grace Ablaze Ministries International, shared the same sentiments with Motsi, saying it was most unfortunate that the fights within the MDC-T were prevailing at a time when Zimbabweans were in need of urgent change.

He said the division within the opposition party did not reflect its determination to facilitate change.

"The fights are not giving hope to the public, but instead they are inciting fear and depression in the public," Magaya said.

But Reverend Levy Kadenge of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe said the fights within the opposition party were very normal and healthy for the nation.

"There is nothing amiss about the squabbles because every group in society is subject to encountering misunderstandings within themselves. The way they are behaving is very normal and if it is possible, the fights must intensify because misunderstandings lead to resolutions," he said.