FISSURES have erupted in the main opposition MDC Alliance after three legislators defied a party directive to disengage from all parliamentary business and showed up for duty, triggering allegations of an imminent coup on Nelson Chamisa by his deputy Tendai Biti.
Sunningdale legislator Winnie Kanguni exposed a coup plot against Chamisa by Biti, which she said was being led by Harare ward 16 councillor Denford Ngadziore as the two went toe-totoe in an MDC Alliance leadership WhatsApp group.
Ngadziore triggered the debate, accusing Kanguni of selling out Chamisa and the MDC Alliance after she attended a Parliament meeting, saying she should be exposed and dealt with decisively for violating standing committee resolutions.
“The Parliamentary Portfolio Committees on Health, Industry, Public Service convened meetings today,” Ngadziore said.
“All genuine MDC Alliance Members of Parliament boycotted in support of national standing committee resolutions. Those who boycotted include the chairperson of the Health committee, Ruth Labode (Matabeleland North proportional representative).
“However, one Kanguni of Sunningadale decided in her great wisdom or lack of it to attend this meeting, clearly in contrast to the party position.”
He added: “Kanguni is, hereby, declared a rebel and due action shall follow immediately after assessing her reasons for defying the party. More provincial council meetings shall be held this week and all rebels will be exposed and dealt with decisively.”
Kanguni did not take the attack lying down, accusing Ngadziore of fanning violence together with Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi in their bid to oust Chamisa after he led a failed coup on behalf of Biti.
“You are the face of violence, you caused people to be beaten here and everyone knows that you are a sellout,” Kanguni said.
“Why is it that when MDC Alliance activists are arrested, you are the only one who escapes jail? Tell us how you even won the primary elections to become MDC Alliance candidate.”
She added: “The only reason is you wanted me to join Biti so that we plot a takeover from Chamisa for 2023. I didn’t join politics to be an MP,” she said in fierce exchanges in a party structured WhatsApp group.
Biti, who has pledged loyalty to Chamisa in public, is seen as the next MDC Alliance president, with insiders saying he is just waiting in the wings to pull the rug from under the feet of his boss.
But other party insiders said it was actually Biti who was leading the fight against Khupe, Mwonzora and Komichi and galvanising the legislators to back Chamisa.
