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ceremonial head at the elective congress set for Bulawayo on April 30.
Although no one in the party’s ranks is willing to challenge Mr Tsvangirai, it is believed that a faction aligned to secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti is covertly working to gain control by dismantling the “kitchen cabinet”.
Mr Tsvangirai and the Makone family largely control the “kitchen cabinet”.
Informed sources said the Biti faction was on the verge of securing control of the majority of the party’s 12 provinces that will elect the national executive at congress.
A party insider who is part of the scheme said, “There is acceptance that Tsvangirai is the face of our struggle, despite his many shortcomings. So no one will challenge him, but people will certainly go for all the other leadership posts and oust his blue-eyed boys.
“The only way we can do that is to ensure that we win provincial elections.”
Last weekend, Mr Biti’s point man in Harare, Mr Paul Madzorere, won the provincial election ahead of Mr Tsvangirai’s longtime friend Mr Morgan Femai.
Last year Mr Alexio Musundire edged Mr Tsvangirai’s preferred candidate Mr James Makore in the race for the Chitungwiza post.
In Matabeleland South, incumbent chairperson Mr Sengezo Tshabangu is likely going to retain his post unopposed at elections on Saturday.
Mr Tshabangu yesterday confirmed that he worked closely with Mr Tendai Biti but denied the existence of factionalism.
“I work with Tendai very closely but I only work with him because of his office as the secretary-general as I work with the office of the organising secretary. Yes I hear some saying I belong to the Biti faction but it is just a rumour.”
In Masvingo province, Mr Wilstaf Sitemere of the Tsvangirai faction was re-elected unopposed as chairman at an election that was boycotted by Mr Bernard Chiondegwa, who is said to be pro-Biti.
Mr Chiondengwa’s camp described Mr Sitemere’s election as a non-event and vowed to hold a “real” election on Sunday.
Masvingo West legislator Mr Tichaona Chiminya said: “What happened last Saturday at Mucheke was a non-event. According to the national organising secretary (Engineer Elias Mudzuri), the real provincial congress will be held this coming Sunday at Mucheke Stadium.
“Whoever is claiming to have held an elective provincial congress is lying. We are busy preparing for the real congress that we are going to hold on Sunday and we have already booked the venue and we are in the process of getting police clearance.
“What the other group did at Mucheke last Saturday is null and void. Why are they afraid of facing credible elections.”
Masvingo Urban legislator Mr Tongai Matutu – who was elected provincial secretary in the Sitemere-led executive – refused to comment.
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Nelson Chamisa said the Masvingo issue would be handled by the party’s national leadership.
“We are still to get a full report about what happened in Masvingo. Once the report is there, the standing committee of the MDC-T will make a determination. But I must hasten to say that there is no confusion at all,” said Mr Chamisa.
In Mashonaland West, provincial elections at the weekend resulted in all but chairman Mr Japhet Karemba falling by the wayside.
The pro-Tsvangirai Zvipani faction prevailed.