Tsvangirai's MDC to hold primary elections

THE MDC-T has said it will soon hold primary elections to elect new candidates in constituencies held by lawmakers who are members of the breakaway renewal team as fighting between the two factions escalates, Chronicle reported.

The party's spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said the party had started preparations for the polls as it seeks to get rid of legislators belonging to the faction led by the party's secretary-general Tendai Biti.

"As far as we're concerned the legislators who joined the so-called renewal team do not belong to the MDC-T. We are therefore planning to hold primary elections to elect new candidates that belong to the party. These would not be shadow MPs but real MPs representing the MDC-T," said Mwonzora.

"We have already started preparing for the elections and we would soon be having new MPs that belong to the party."

Party members from Tsvangirai's faction have been putting pressure on the legislators aligned to Biti to resign. Initially, the MDC-T had intended to recall nine MPs, but the list of those alleged to be working with Biti is growing.

The renewal team's national chairperson who is also Lobengula legislator Dr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo yesterday dismissed Tsvangirai faction's latest threat as a non-event.

"As MPs we're accountable to the people in our constituencies, including those that did not vote for us, not party members only. We'll therefore continue with our work.

"Obviously the split has created groups in Parliament. We're no longer discussing together, which is natural considering what has transpired in the past months," said Dr Sipepa Nkomo.

Reggy Moyo, Luveve MP said people that want them to be recalled, including Mwonzora cannot take action against anyone as they were suspended.

He said they were no longer working with the MDC-T group, even in Parliament.

Mpopoma-Pelandaba legislator Bekithemba Nyathi said he would not be answerable to a few individuals who are only concerned about their own interests.

Last month, the Speaker of the National Assembly Cde Jacob Mudenda said the fight between the two factions could only be settled in court.

Mwonzora however said the Speaker's ruling does not stop them from recalling the MPs as provided for in the Constitution.