The faction of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by Arthur Mutambara has accused the National Constitutional Assembly, a civil society group, of purging members of the faction from its ranks in retaliation for its opposition to NCA Chairman Lovemore Madhuku's acceptance of a third term in office.
The Mutambara faction issued a statement demanding Madhuku step down.
A majority of some 90% of NCA members approved an amendment to the civil society organization's constitution enabling Madhuku to serve a third term.
Mutambara faction faction spokesman Gabriel Chaibva told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that Madhuku had “lost the moral authority" to criticize President Mugabe for his ruling party's amendments to the national constitution.
Madhuku rebutted the allegations saying there are bound to be disagreements in any organization with as diverse a membership as the NCA, which is closely aligned with the MDC faction led by the party's founding president, Morgan Tsvangirai.
Madhuku added in an interview that the NCA has received no formal communication from the Mutambara faction on the issue of his third term as chairman.
More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...