Tsvangirai set to come face to face with Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti

MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai may come face to face with his adversaries in the MDC Renewal Team at a convention being organised by churches and civil society.

The convention will be held after Zanu-PF's December congress, although officials have not finalised the date.

Indications are that Tsvangirai will be invited to the convention, despite earlier reservations by some participating political players, who claimed that he was undemocratic.

Tsvangirai had also expressed unwillingness to attending the conference, which he believes is being pushed by his former secretary generals Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube, among others.

The organisers of the convention argue that Tsvangirai should attend as he is a major political player in Zimbabwe who cannot be ignored.

Tsvangirai garnered 47,8% of the 2,5 million votes in the 2008 and 34,9% of 3,4 million votes in the 2013 general elections.

The convention, whose dates have been changed on several times, will see churches, political parties, civil society and other stakeholders convening to come up with an alliance that will deal with various economic and political issues affecting Zimbabweans under Zanu-PF rule.

MDC Renewal Team spokesperson Jacob Mafume this week said more than 10 civil society organisations had shown interest in the convention.

Mafume said: "The convention will either be held later this year or early next year because there are a lot of activities that will be taking place including two congresses, that is the Zanu-PF and MDC-T congresses."

He said the convention is a suggestion from the MDC Renewal Team but was guided by civil society and other independent bodies.

According to sources in the grand coalition that includes the MDC led by Welshman Ncube, MDC Renewal Team, Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn and Zapu, a memorandum of understanding has been agreed on.

"There is a draft constitution that the grand coalition is working on consulting their parties. The coalition held a meeting last week and the National Constitutional Assembly attended its first meeting," said a source.

Contacted for comment, MDC-T presidential spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said: "I don't comment on possibilities and potential things."