Pius Chinyera
Developments within the MDC-Alliance suggest that that party’s leader Nelson Chamisa intends to suspend his long-time ally, Charlton Hwende, the Secretary General, following the admission by cornered National Organising Secretary, Amos Chibaya, of the existence of the Hwende-led Kensington/Maruva Cabal.
A source privy to the developments revealed a WhatsApp message leaked to Chamisa between Hwende and the deputy organising secretary, Murisi Zwizwai. Part of the message reads: “Mupfana uya aakutirasisa yet tisu takamupinza ipapo (that youngman is now side-lining us yet we were instrumental in his rise to presidency).”
This also follows utterances by Secretary for the MDC-Alliance Presidential Affairs, Jameson Timba that “the biggest challenge within the party is the worsening relations between Chamisa and Hwende.”
Timba reportedly urged Chamisa to forgive all other remorseful cabal members, but not Hwende, an indication that the Secretary General’s fate is already decided.
The source said that Chamisa warned the Maruva cabal members that their days were numbered and castigated Chibaya for failing to nip factionalism in the bud within the party. Revelations are that the cabal had been conducting numerous meetings at the Kensington Horticulture Centre from whence they derive their name (Maruva).
Whereas the MDC-Alliance has previously attributed their political failures to ZANU PF involvement in their internal politics, the source said the cabal was now known for undermining and sabotaging Chamisa and the entire MDC Alliance programmes.
This is probably the first time that the MDC Alliance leadership has come out in the open confirming the existence of factionalism within that party.
Political analyst, Tapiwa Chabayanzara opined that the declaration by Chamisa last week that there are a lot of vacant party positions within the MDC Alliance is an indication that there is likely going to be a reshuffle within the party.
This week, Chamisa promised released activist Last Maengahama, a party position, a move interpreted by analysts as a sign that the Maruva cabal might be shown the exit and pave way for Chamisa’s loyalists.
