The faction of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday dismissed media reports it is headed for a split amid an acrimonious dispute over the dissolution of its women's assembly last month.
Party leaders agreed to suspend the matter Saturday until Acting Chairman Lovemore Moyo reports on the circumstances surround an extraordinary women's congress held Oct. 27 in Bulawayo. The congress ousted Lucia Matibenga as chairwoman following dissolution of her women's assembly executive earlier in the month, and elected Theresa Makone the new chairwoman of the assembly.
However, Matibenga and others have challenged the legitimacy of the congress, as a separate congress was held the same day at another location by her supporters.
Tsvangirai faction spokesman Nelson Chamisa told reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the formation is still a united political party.
The Movement for Democratic Change split into two factions - that led by Tsvangirai and that now headed by Arthur Mutambara - in October 2005 over whether to contest elections that November for the senate just reconstituted by the ruling party.