Political Reporter

Factional wars continue unabated within the MDC Alliance with the latest development seeing Nelson Chamisa elevating his loyalist, Cecelia Chimbiri to the position of Acting National Youth Assembly chairperson, a move that has been designed to shove up his faction that has been playing second fiddle to the Maruva cabal.

A source within the MDC Alliance told this publication that the Youth Assembly chairperson, Obey Sithole, is currently out of the country seeking medical assistance and Chamisa, who has lost faith in the incumbent swiftly elevated Chimbiri to be the acting Youth Assembly chairperson, despite Sithole being expected to return to the country soon.

“All things being equal, there was no need to elevate Chimbiri to be the acting chairperson considering that Sithole is coming back soon. However, we all know that Chimbiri was elevated to manage factional battles within the Youth Assembly as the majority of the members are said to be supporting the Maruva cabal. Chimbiri’s elevation is expected to be permanent as Chamisa and his allies are fed up with Sithole and they are looking for any flimsiest mistake to suspend or expel him from the party,” said the source.

According to the source, Chamisa is currently not seeing eye to eye with Sithole who is believed to be hobnobbing with the Maruva cabal that seeks to ouster Chamisa as the party leader.

The source added that another member of the Maruva cabal, Youth Organising Secretary Godfrey Kurauone, has been replaced by Netsai Marowa, without an explanation given.

“Members were told that Marowa was now the Youth Assembly acting Organising Secretary replacing Kurauone. No explanation was given, but we suspect that it has to do with the factional battles within the party,” added the source.

According to the source, Sithole and Kurauone are believed to be against Chamisa’s leadership and are supporting a rival faction. However, Chamisa has taken it upon himself to root out everyone who is opposed to him from the party structures and replace them with his cronies.

The source added that there was going to be a shake up within the MDC Alliance structures before 2023 as everyone with questionable loyalty to Chamisa was either going to be demoted or expelled from the party.

The MDC Alliance is embroiled in factional wars that have sucked in Biti, Thabitha Khumalo, Welshman Ncube and Charlton Hwende. Currently, Bulawayo is on fire with members sharply divided into two distinct factions led by Ncube and Khumalo.