The battle lines have been drawn ahead of the MDC -Alliances elective congress as two former party secretary generals, Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube, are heading for a clash.
Ncube and Biti both left the MDC -T which was led by the late former Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, citing different reasons. Ncube left the MDC in 2005 just before the Senatorial elections while Biti left eight years later accusing the late Tsvangirai of being a dictator.
Biti and Ncube were later re-admitted into the MDC after the death of Tsvangirai together with their political parties.
Tsvangirai had previously been quoted in the mainstream media labelling Biti a coup plotter and deceiver.
“He (Biti) deceived us all.The man does not believe in anything except his power,” the late leader was qouted as saying.
This year, the two former defectors meet again and its a tightly contested battle as each one of them commands a large following in different provinces.
The vice-presidency post also has several names been thrown into the ring including the Women’s Assembly boss Karenyi Kore, Senator Lillian Timveos, Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda, Paurina Mpariwa, Morgan Komichi, Theresa Makone and Elias Mudzuri.
Douglas Mwonzora’s intentions are not yet clear but he has at one time beaten party leader Nelson Chamisa for the secretary-general post back in 2014.
Sources close to Mwonzora said he is still weighing his options as any blunder and wrong choice of positions will bring him to the political cemetery.
“He (Mwonzora) is a schemer and he knows that if he runs for presidency, he stands a chance of sliding into political obscurity should he lose to Chamisa.
“So as of now he is making careful considerations,” revealed our source.
In a previous interview with this publication, Mwonzora made it clear that he is willing to contest for any party position but he respects the people’s will in the provincial nominations.
It is now the battle of getting nominations from provinces as tension mounts in the opposition party.
The MDC- A will hold its much awaited elective congress from May 24-May 26 2019.
It comes one year after the death of Tsvangirai and three months after Chamisa’s presidency expired in February.