Efforts to heal the rift within the Movement for Democratic Change remained elusive as its two factions continued to advance and defend their positions as to whether the opposition should contest elections for a controversial reconstituted senate.
MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai has pursued a national campaign to lobbying the party’s grass roots in favor of boycotting the Nov. 26 senate elections, while the faction favoring participation is pressing on with some 26 senate candidacies.
But observers have been concerned at a rise in violent incidents between supporters of the two factions. At least two MDC members were injured in separate incidents over the weekend. The altercations coincided with a visit by Mr. Tsvangirai to the second city of Bulawayo, a stronghold for the MDC faction intent on winning senate seats.
Correspondent Netsai Mlilo of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe reports on an address by Mr. Tsvangirai to a large crowd of MDC supporters in Bulawayo.
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