MDC-United collapses

The United Movement for Democratic Change (UMDC) which was touted to be the springboard for a grand coalition of opposition parties has reportedly collapsed amid reports of fierce fights among its leaders.

UMDC was formed early this year by the MDC and MDC Renewal Team both breakaway factions from the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T to spearhead a campaign to unseat the Zanu-PF regime.

Party officials said fierce fights erupted last month after some of the leaders started decampaigning their colleagues ahead of a congress to elect a substantive leadership for the fledgling party.

The source said the project came to a standstill following the expulsion of 21 Renewal Team MPs from Parliament last week with its interim secretary-general Tendai Biti indicating that he was no longer interested in party politics.

However, UMDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume dismissed the reports, saying the project was still intact.