Tsvangirai checkmate Chamisa

MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has consolidated his control of the party by co-opting his allies into strategic organs, while purging those aligned to Mr Nelson Chamisa, who is seen as his rival.

Mr Tsvangirai pushed the party's national council that met last week to accept three legislators aligned to him into the organ, together with the inclusion of his allies who either lost the battle for positions in the party's 2014 congress or in general elections.

Mabvuku-Tafara MP Mr James Maridadi, Mutare Central legislator and chief whip Mr Innocent Gonese and Matabeleland North Senator Rosemary Nyathi were included in the national council in what sources said was a consolidation of Mr Tsvangirai's influence.

This comes as Mr Tsvangirai has pushed for the expulsion of Bulawayo Senator Matson Hlalo, for allegedly defying a party directive to withdraw a court case in which he sued the party over its decision which preferred Mr Gift Banda ahead of him as the Bulawayo provincial chairperson.

Sen Hlalo now risks being recalled from Parliament. Mr Tsvangirai has also pushed to have five of his allies moved into the national executive.

These are Mr Blessing Chebundo, Dr Tapiwa Mashakada (Hatfield MP), Matabeleland North proportional representative Dr Ruth Labode, Professor Heneri Dzinotyiwei and Mr Mathias Mlambo.

Party spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu confirmed the development, but said the three MPs were elected by the party's caucus of legislators.

"The three were elected by the party's caucus of Parliament," he said. "On the five, Mr Tsvangirai requested permission to appoint five additional members to the national executive. That permission was unanimously granted and they become automatic members of the national council."

On Sen Hlalo, Mr Gutu said the outspoken legislator was expelled for defying a directive for a political settlement as opposed to litigation in a tussle for control of the Bulawayo province with incumbent chairperson Mr Banda.

Mr Tsvangirai recently aborted his nationwide policy dialogue forum as part of efforts to dilute the growing influence of Mr Chamisa, who crafted the document, as the rift between the two escalated.

He launched the document in Harare last month and moved around some provinces, but abruptly stopped after realising that doing so would prop up Mr Chamisa's profile as he was instrumental in crafting it in his capacity as Secretary for Policy and Research, according to sources within the party.

Mr Gutu admitted that the forum had been stopped.

"We are a very big political party that is always engaged in several party activities, the policy dialogue forum being one of those activities," he said.

"As and when time and resources permit, the policy dialogue forum will be resumed."