Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai 'expels' Tendai Biti from MDC Published duration 29 April 2014

image copyright AP image caption Morgan Tsvangirai has led the MDC since its launch in 1999

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says his rival Tendai Biti has been expelled from their MDC party, along with eight other members.

Mr Biti was an "opportunist" who was being manipulated by President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, he said.

On Saturday, a faction led by Mr Biti said Mr Tsvangirai had been suspended from the MDC because of a "remarkable failure of leadership".

The divisions in the MDC follow its defeat in the 2013 elections.

The election ended the coalition the MDC and Zanu-PF had formed after disputed elections in 2008.

'Bogus'

Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Biti, the MDC secretary-general, had been long-standing allies in their campaign to remove Mr Mugabe from power, but fell out after the elections held in July last year.

Mr Tsvangirai said Mr Biti and the other "rebels" had been recalled from parliament.

"He [Mr Biti] deceived us all. The man doesn't believe in anything, except his power," Mr Tsvangirai said, in his first comments since his suspension was announced.

On Saturday, Mr Biti's faction said the MDC's national council had voted to suspend Mr Tsvangirai because the party had been "transformed into a fiefdom of the leader".

Mr Tsvangirai dismissed the meeting as "illegal, unconstitutional, illegitimate and bogus".

Many MDC supporters are worried that the split could strengthen Mr Mugabe and Zanu-PF and are hoping that the two leaders can resolve their differences, reports the BBC's Brian Hungwe from the capital, Harare.

Mr Mugabe, 90, has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.

image copyright AFP image caption President Robert Mugabe, 90, has been in power since 1980

image copyright AFP image caption Tendai Biti (L) and Mr Tsvangirai (R) used to work together to oust him

Second split

Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Biti played a key role in the launch of the MDC in 1999 to challenge Mr Mugabe's grip on power.

The party's formation led to a period of intense repression and violence against the MDC.

Mr Mugabe also ordered the seizure of white-owned farms, and the economy went into crisis.

The two parties formed a power-sharing government in 2009, following mediation efforts by regional leaders.

The unity government ended last year, with Mr Mugabe and Zanu-PF's victory in presidential and parliamentary elections.

Mr Mugabe obtained 61% of the presidential vote against 34% for Mr Tsvangirai.