Tsvangirai MDC Members Join Rival MDC Group

Three Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) legislators, who were holding influential positions, and a Bulawayo city councillor on Wednesday announced that they have defected to the MDC Renewal Team in what one of them described as a lack of democracy in the MDC-T party during the weekend nominations ahead of the congress.

Bulawayo provincial organizing secretary, Albert Mhlanga, provincial Women's Assembly chairperson Gladys Mathe and Binga South legislator, Prince Madubeko Sibanda, were paraded at a press conference Monday in Bulawayo. Mhlanga, who had just been nominated for the position of organizing secretary for another term resigned apparently in frustration at the alleged lack of democracy where party leader Morgan Tsvangirai was directly involved in the process.

Deputy mayor, Gift Banda, reported to be Tsvangirai's favorite, was chosen provincial chairman ahead of Matson Hlalo, who most people had been expecting would be chosen. Hlalo is said to be mulling contesting the result of the lection at the High Court.

There were also reports of violence at the Makokoba Stanley Square - venue of the nomination process but no arrests were made.

MDC-T renewal team provincial deputy chairman, Edwin Ndlovu, said there are 14 Bulawayo city councillors who also indicated that they are joining the MDC Renewal Team.

Studio 7 also reached MDC-T national deputy organising secretary, Abednico Bhebhe who disputed that Tsvangirai had a directly involved in the election process. He added there was no violence but a minor skirmish that led to a gate being uprooted. Bhebhe said those who lost in the elections were now trying to tarnish the image of the party.