The Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai's imminent elections to select candidates to represent the party in the forthcoming general election could create fissures after a group requested that party leader Morgan Tsvangirai disregard a constitutional policy on sitting MPs.
The MDC's constitution stipulates that a sitting MP requires only a two-thirds confirmation from party officials in his or her constituency to avoid a primary election. Insiders say that newer members want this provision waived to allow for leadership renewal in the 13-year-old party.
Sources within the party allege that Tsvangirai has refused to entertain the request, insisting on adherence to the party's constitution in order to shield members of his inner circle from becoming unseated.
Party members, particularly from the MDC's Youth Assembly and including its leader, Solomon Madzore, have already expressed interest in contesting constituencies held by sitting MPs, among them ministers.
Madzore is said to be eyeing the Dzivarasekwa constituency currently held by Heneri Dzinotyiweyi, who doubles up as the minister of science and technology.
Allies under fire
Other top politicians close to Tsvangirai who are facing a stiff challenge include Ian and Theresa Makone, a couple long touted as Tsvangirai's financial backers.
Ian Makone is Tsvangirai's former chief of staff and is now secretary in charge of government affairs in the prime minister's office. He is eyeing a candidacy in his home area of Domboshawa. His wife, Theresa, the legislator for Hatcliffe, serves as home affairs minister in the unity government.
But aggrieved party members want the Makones out, accusing them of being party to the love scandals that soiled Tsvangirai's name and that of the party. Last year, businesswoman Locardia Tembo took Tsvangirai to court after he announced his impending marriage to Elizabeth Macheka. Tembo claimed he had married her according to custom and she and Tsvangirai later settled the matter out of court.
Party sources claimed that Theresa Makone, a friend of Tembo's, had introduced her to Tsvangirai.
Other Tsvangirai allies said to be unpopular within party ranks include: secretary general Tendai Biti; Tsvangirai's deputy, Thokozani Khuphe; national executive member and Masvingo urban legislator Tongai Moyo; deputy minister of mines and mining development Gift Chimanikire; and national executive member Evelyn Masaiti.
Chimanikire is said to have shocked and angered party members by defending the accumulation of wealth by his boss in government, Mines Minister Obert Mpofu, who is a member of Zanu-PF.
Chimanikire will be challenged for the Harare Southerton seat by Emmanuel Chimwanda, an MDC-T appointee in the Anti-Corruption Commission and a former police commissioner.
Sources said this week that it would be a "travesty of democracy" if Tsvangirai shielded incumbents from primaries, arguing that if the party wanted to uphold its democratic ideology, then every member should have a chance to challenge any position.
Tsvangirai "not protecting anyone"
MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora dismissed claims that Tsvangirai was protecting members of his inner circle, saying the party leader was "too democratic" to want to "tinker with the principles of the party".
"The issue of confirmation of sitting legislators by their respective constituencies is not a provision designed by Tsvangirai," he said. "It was designed by the party as early as 2000. It is not a new thing. Tsvangirai is not interested in protecting anyone."
Bekithemba Mpofu, a political analyst based in the United Kingdom and a former secretary general of the MDC Youth Assembly, said the clause ensured fairness as "the district executive [is] given the opportunity to confirm if the MP has lived [up] to the expectations of their mandate".
The MDC's primaries have, surprisingly, attracted a sizeable number of former and practising journalists, including popular radio personality Eric Knight, who will contest the party's Mbare seat; Grace Kwinjeh, former reporter of the now defunct Zimbabwe Mirror; former disc jockeys Ezra Sibanda and James Maridadi; former Daily News news editor Luke Tamborinyoka; as well as Dennis Kagonye, owner of the Weekly Mirror, who will contest Chinhoyi's Ward 8.