Claver Nyuki 

Reports of growing animosity between MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa and his deputy, Tendai Biti continues to gather momentum with information gathered by the Harare Post unearthing a devious plan by Chamisa to hold re-elections in all the Assemblies won by alleged Biti loyalists in a bit to halt the growing influence of his deputy leader.

Last week, the MDC Bindura North district assembly held a re-election for the chairmanship post after the losing candidate, Tinashe Madamombe, who is believed to be a Chamisa loyalist, contested the result alleging vote rigging and inconsistences in favour of Amiri Njawara. Njawara is believed to be aligned with the now defunct Mwonzora function and has since joined forces with the Biti faction to topple Chamisa. 

The move by Chamisa comes amidst rumours that the perennial donors of the MDC, the West, seem to be in support of Bitis 2023 Presidential bid at the expense of Chamisa as evidenced by the Wests US$50 000 sponsorship towards his bid to become the partys Vice President at the elective congress.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Chamisa after making National Executive Committee appointments seemingly rewarding his loyalists and not including members of the Alliance partners. As a result, Chamisa was forced to make five additional National Executive Committee members from Bulawayo. 

The additional appointments include the MDC former Bulawayo Provincial Assembly chairman, Gift Banda who is aligned to the Biti faction. Political Analysts view this appointment as a way of pacifying him after he took a parallel structure to the congress in Gweru.

The other appointments include other individuals aligned to Bitis former deputy, Kucaca Phulu, former MDC-N National Organising Secretary, Rita Ndlovu, Dorcas Sibanda and Spiwe Ncube. According to sources within the MDC, the Bulawayo Provincial Assembly is irked by the National Executive appointments made by Chamisa amidst claims they were not consulted.

Same source revealed to the publication that the Provincial Assembly chairperson, James Sithole lambasted the appointment of Fadzai Mahere, claiming that there were other hopefuls who were denied the opportunity on the pretext that they had not served for five years in the party structures. The source went on to reveal that the Bulawayo assembly was organising protests against Maheres appointment.