Divisions rock MDC: Old Guard Vs Omafikizolo

FACTIONALISM has reared its ugly head within the Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Professor Welshman Ncube amid reports that the party has been divided into two camps, party insiders have said.

Highly placed sources within the party have revealed that there is a camp led by National Healing Minister – Mozes Mzila Ndlovu and another led by former Zapu 2000 activist, Qhubani Moyo.

Moyo is the party's secretary for organizing whereas Ndlovu is the deputy secretary general.

On Sunday, the party will have a crisis meeting at a Bulawayo lodge to try and "patch up" differences amongst members.

The crisis, sources say has also split the party's youth wing into two factions also. There is a faction that is pro-Mzila Ndlovu which is led by Discent Collins Bajila the youth secretary general and another that is pro-the establishment which is led by the youth chairman Gideon Mandaza.

The two factions all seem to be against the office of the secretary general and one of them (Mzila group) is against the "sudden rise" of Mafikizolos (new comers) in the party.

"The Moyo group (known as the Kitchen Cabinet) comprises, mostly of the new comers has been accused of acting up as intelligent people with capacity to speak, organize and strategise. "Whereas the old guard camp led by Mzila-Ndlovu, has been accused of posing as the master mobilizes, fundraisers, secretaries (because they know the party too well), and the direction givers, said a source.

Those said to be Mafikizolos are: Qhubani Moyo, Joshua Mhambi and Nhlanhla Bahlangene Dube. Their camp has some members of the party's old guard – Ritta Ndovu, Masotsha Ndlovu.

The source added that the old guard camp has: Mzila Ndlovu, Paul Themba Nyathi, Sibongile Mgijima, a Chimbiri, Siyabonga Malandu Ncube, Edwin Mushoriwa, Gifford Sibanda and a host of party employees at the Bulawayo office.

"Both factions are seeking to be close to the President. Some of them who are unemployed and unemployable even go as far as going to be farm boys at his farm and others take to heavy gossiping whenever they  are with the President.

"Some innocent new party members have been caught up in the fracas between the factions and their attempts of working for the good of the party have been thwarted by bootlickers, willing slave of factionalists, career gossiper and paranoid attention seekers," an angry youth said.

Another added that the root of the factionalism stems from the fear by some "anti-reform" elements that for unknown reasons think Moyo wants to be secretary general of the party ahead of Mzila-Ndlovu.

"They say uQhubani wants to be the secretary general ahead of Mzila-Ndlovu and is building structures all over the country for that to happen. He has also brought his Zapu 2000 allies like Mhambi, his wife Ritta Moyo, Busani Ncube, Noble Malunguza, Godwin Phiri, Nhlanhla Dube and others.

"He bought them using Copac and they owe him a lot," said a source.

Zapu's spokesperson Methuseli Moyo once alleged that the MDC "went shopping" for its members using Copac. Those identified as "hire-purchased goods" were Mhambi and Dube.