Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is facing an onslaught on its grip in urban areas from Ignatius Chombo, the Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development and a key ally of President Robert Mugabe.

Chombo's manoeuvres against the MDC, which controls the city councils of most urban areas in the country, including the key constituencies of Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare, are seen by observers as spearheading a grand plan to weaken the MDC's support base ahead of crucial elections.

In a veiled warning to the MDC-led city councils this week of a looming crackdown, Chombo said: "We will work with the mayors and councillors in the cities that they were elected in, but we will remove the bad apples. Those that are willing to work with us will continue working."

Last week, Chombo suspended Mutare mayor Brian James on allegations of misconduct, and the suspension has led the MDC to cry foul and accuse Chombo of overstepping his authority.

In a letter written to James, a copy of which has been seen by the Sunday Times, Chombo wrote: "During the period of your suspension, you shall not conduct any council business for, and on behalf of council, within or outside council premises and you shall not be eligible to receive any form of remuneration."

It is understood that Chombo is keen to appoint commissions to have oversight of the city councils, a move that would enable Zanu-PF to have a hawk's eye on activities done in city councils perceived to be "problematic".

For over a decade, the MDC has enjoyed domination of the major cities in the country, and the party is understood to have been upbeat with the inevitable endorsement it would get in the urban areas in the next election and was now eyeing making inroads into the rural areas.

This situation has left the party caught up with "fire-fighting", instead of pushing into the rural areas for votes, according to a senior MDC official. In the March 2008 election the MDC shocked Zanu-PF by securing votes in key rural strongholds.

Pressure is said to be mounting within Zanu-PF, which has little hope of causing an upset in urban areas, and is further hampered by fragmented support in rural areas.

The fight over the control of the country's urban areas comes amid Harare battling a typhoid outbreak that has claimed more than 50 lives and has been linked to the city's poor water system.

Observers said a mud-slinging contest was certain to unfold as a result of the typhoid outbreak, with Chombo likely to use this as the basis to persecute the Muchadeyi Masunda-led Harare City Council.

Meanwhile, the MDC faces a daunting task of cleaning up its image with urban voters who have become more vocal with accusations that the party has become complacent in improving service delivery in city centres.

In Bulawayo, where complaints have reached fever-pitch, political analyst Dumisani Nkomo said it would be wise for the MDC to listen to the barrage of criticism from its supporters and that it must use this as a test of its popularity.