Madhuku to defend Biti

The impending legal fight over properties between MDC-T factions in the High Court will pit constitutional law expert Lovemore Madhuku and his former bosom-buddy Douglas Mwonzora.

Madhuku and Mwonzora worked together at the then constitutional lobby group, National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), as chairperson and spokesperson respectively, before they separated in not so amicable circumstances.

Mwonzora is now spokesperson of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led faction of the MDC-T and legal counsel in the pending property fight, while Madhuku, who has transformed the NCA into a political party, on Wednesday lodged  a notice to defend the other faction of the MDC-T now fronted by secretary-general Tendai Biti.

Madhuku entered a notice "for appearance to defend" Biti, party deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma and administrative assistant Fortune Gwaze.

The former University of Zimbabwe law lecturer also entered another notice "of appearance to defend" Biti, Mangoma, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo and Sekai Holland in a case in which MDC-T national council member and Tsvangirai loyalist Tamsanqa Mahlangu and 128 others are challenging an April 2 party resolution to suspended the former premier and six other top leaders.

The opposition party has been teetering on the brink following its electoral loss to Zanu PF last year in July.

The loss precipitated cat-calls for Tsvangirai to step-down and allow for an elective congress. First to call for Tsvangirai's resignation was exiled treasurer-general Roy Bennett days after the elections. This was followed by former Marondera legislator Ian Kay who characterised Tsvangirai as a "rust bolt" that needed to be removed.

Former Harare mayor Elias Mudzuri asked Tsvangirai to resign and be "the Mandela of the party" and in January this year, Mangoma wrote a letter accusing the veteran trade unionist of "eroding the MDC's goodwill because of his behaviour that has resulted in diminishing returns on the party's and your legacy" in reference to MDC-T leader's numerous escapades with women, widely reported in the media.

Tsvangirai declined to step down and called on the party's grassroots and one such meeting turned violent, resulting in an ugly attack on Mangoma and other leaders. Mangoma was first suspended and subsequently expelled from the party after accusing Tsvangirai of being the instigator-in-chief of his attack.

While Biti had remained in the shadows, he literally pulled the rug from under Tsvangirai's feet on April 16 after convening a national council meeting at Mandel Training Centre in Harare that resolved to suspend Tsvangirai along with six of his acolytes.