Reports that 19 security officers have been dismissed by the MDC-T reflects that the organisation has a need for 'cleansing' and further highlights the existence of a power struggle in the party, a political analyst has said.

On Sunday the Standard newspaper reported that the MDC-T had fired 19 senior security officers from its Harvest House headquarters, on allegations that they were supplying vital party information to state security agents. The newspaper also linked their dismal to a power struggle between party secretary-general and Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Tsvangirai's advisor, Ian Makone.

The Standard said it has seen the letters of termination of employment, signed by the MDC-T human resources and administration director Kudakwashe Matibiri. However a senior MDC-T party official told SW Radio Africa that the newspaper report was false, saying the officers have not been dismissed but were on suspension and the case was being dealt with.

But on Tuesday political analyst Professor John Makumbe told SW Radio Africa that he believes that the report that the security staff were dismissed is true as ZANU PF and state agents have infiltrated the MDC-T. He also said that the staff shake-up is part of a power struggle between Biti and Makone.

According to the Standard, Tsvangirai wanted the officers reinstated but some members in the Biti faction were blocking the move as they had already employed people who are allegedly loyal to the Finance Minister. The paper claimed that the ongoing reshuffles, including the first one this year in June, were an attempt by Makone to counter Biti's growing influence in the party.

Makumbe said: "There is usually fire when you see smoke. I am aware that there is a tussle between the two, and I know that there are people in the MDC who think Ian Makone is getting unduly close to Morgan Tsvangirai and they would like to clip his wings.

"There are underlying machinations between the two groups. The first reshuffle was aimed clearly at diffusing some of those machinations. This second one is aimed at diffusing and neutralizing one corner for the benefit of the other."

Makumbe added that reports that the dismissed workers were neither brought before a disciplinary committee nor given terminal benefits, some after working for the party for nearly a decade, shows the MDC-T is now using Robert Mugabe's antics to deal with people.

"It says even the democratic change we are looking for may have to start with the MDC itself. Internal democracy, internal discipline, is really still lax within the MDC itself, and that needs to be tightened up. There is no excuse for dismissing without following due process, a democratic party would follow due process," he said.

He added that: "We are all damaged by Mugabe, we are all victims of Mugabe's style of leadership. Even when we form our own political parties sometimes we still copy from how Mugabe would have handled things; Tekere was never placed before a disciplinary committee."