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harmonised elections set for this year.
Mr Matutu is the party’s provincial secretary while Alderman Chakabuda is the treasurer.
Alderman Chakabuda wants to retain his mayoral seat among allegations that he was pushing for a council employee to challenge Mr Matutu during the primaries.
Party sources in the ancient city said relations between the two soured amid reports they were determined to end each other’s political careers. They said Mr Matutu was also pushing his ally and provincial chairman Mr Wilstaf Sitemere to dump his Masvingo North seat for the mayorship.
Alderman Chakabuda reportedly hit back by endorsing Mr Boniface Mazarire to contest Mr Matutu for the Masvingo Urban seat.
“There is now bad blood between Mr Matutu and Alderman Chakabuda that they have now divided the party in Masvingo. The fight has led to the split into two camps aiming to outdo each other in the primaries and it’s getting worse as we head towards the poll,” the sources said.
Mr Matutu was diplomatic in his response. “We have always said whenever there is a contest for posts everything should end there because at the end of the day we should all continue to show our allegiance to the MDC-T as our party,” he said.
Alderman Chakabuda, however, attacked Mr Matutu accusing him fighting him for the past three months.
He said he was aware of Mr Matutu’s alleged manoeuvres adding that he would respond at the appropriate time.
“I am quite aware that Mr Matutu has been saying bad things about me for the past three months. But there is nothing that I can say at the moment because if I say anything I will be de-campaigning him as the Masvingo Urban sitting legislator.
“However, I must point out that once the party opens up the campaign programme I will be able to say whatever I want about him but at the moment I will keep quiet,” he said.
The MDC-T is faced with the full wrath of an angry electorate in Masvingo City where residents still continue to ask questions over how the Constituency Development Fund was used by Mr Matutu.
Alderman Chakabuda is also facing a cautious electorate enraged by the attachment of council property by the courts together with rampant corruption by the MDC-T dominated council.
Online Reporter