The late opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai knew if either Nelson Chamisa or Thokozani Khupe succeeded him as president, the party would split into rival factions, newly appointed MDC-T deputy chair, Elias Mudzuri has claimed.

In 2016, Tsvangirai appointed Mudzuri and Chamisa as co-presidents bringing the number of VPs in the party to three.

"I also asked him (Tsvangirai) why he wants me to be vice-president, I thought he wanted certain people," Mudzuri told NewZimbabwe.com in a wide-ranging interview this week.

I have done my work as mayor, I have done my work as an organising secretary, I have never fought anyone instead I have been trying to unite people in the party," Mudzuri boasted ahead of the July 31 MDC-T extraordinary congress to replace Tsvangirai.

And when I come back, you will continue to act and I will be at home and bring people together because you know if one (Chamisa or Khupe) of them take over , there is going to be a split and this is what I am experiencing'," Mudzuri said of Tsvangirai confiding in him.