MDC MPs set to declare allegiances

MDC MPs set to declare allegiances

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By Lebo Nkatazo

FACTIONAL leaders of Zimbabwe's divided opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party were expected to test their 41 MPs' allegiance after Parliament opened Tuesday.

The two factions -- one led by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and the other by his deputy Gibson Sibanda -- were expected to hold separate parliamentary caucus meetings on Wednesday morning.

Most MPs have yet to publicly line behind the two leaders, but the new parliamentary session could force them to choose sides in the high stakes political tangle.

Sibanda's faction announced Tuesday night that it would hold its caucus at 10am on Wednesday, while MPs who support Tsvangirai were also expected to hold their own meeting at the MDC's Harvest House headquarters at around the same time.

The MDC split irreconcilably when Tsvangirai rejected the outcome of a national council vote favouring participation in senate elections last November.

Sibanda and his group accused Tsvangirai of being a dictator and led a break-away.

The MDC controls 41 seats in Zimbabwe's parliament which still remains under the control of President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF party. The only other opposition MP in the parliament is independent Tsholotsho legislator, Professor Jonathan Moyo.

Parliament will consider an adverse report by the Parliamentary Legal Committee on the Education Amendment Bill, which seeks, among other things, to give the Education Minister extra powers to fix school fees and levies.

MPs will also debate the Attorney General’s Office Bill and the Zimbabwe Investment Centre Bill that seeks to establish an authority for processing applications for investment licences, planning and implementation of investment promotion strategies.
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