'Mliswa taught Tsvangirai's MDC-T a lesson'

The MDC-T says it is much wiser on how it will approach coalition talks and who it will likely partner in the 2018 general elections following its dance with Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa.

The MDC-T and Mliswa pact appears to have gone sour after the former Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairperson told Morgan Tsvangirai and his party to "go to hell" during a rally in Norton over the weekend.

Party secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said his party was much the wiser following the recent events and would now be using its experiences to make strategic decisions ahead of the 2018 polls.

"We went into Norton to support Mliswa with our eyes open. We went in there for our own strategic reasons and we got the result and information that we wanted," he said. "This information is going to be used to make strategic decisions for 2018, whether we are going into elections, as a coalition or individual party."

Mliswa's fallout with the MDC-T has seen its critics and party supporters questioning the wisdom of the party leadership in supporting expelled Zanu PF members, who then return to the ruling party after riding on their support.

The MDC-T sided with Jonathan Moyo when he ran as an independent candidate in Tsholotsho in 2008, but the opposition was left with egg on the face when he retraced his footsteps back to Zanu PF.

Mwonzora, however, said their support for Mliswa was not tied to any conditions and they had no regrets in backing his candidacy in Norton.

"We were never duped. Our support for his candidacy was not based on the condition that he should become our member. Tsvangirai is happy that he supported his candidature, but he did not attend the celebration because for him, nothing has changed in Zimbabwe to warrant a celebration," he said.

Mliswa said he lashed out at Tsvangirai, telling him to go to hell after his party stopped people from attending his celebration rally because their leader was snubbing him.

The outspoken legislator said he had acted out of emotion before announcing that he was backing Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed President Mugabe.

Mwonzora said, while it was not mature to be unleashing insults at others, Mliswa was offside.

"If I were Mliswa, I would not insult Tsvangirai or the MDC," he said.
'Zanu-PF cannot stop me,' brags Dzamara
ACTIVIST, Patson Dzamara has said he will soldier on and continue fighting Zanu PF's tyranny following an alleged attack and kidnap attempt on him on the eve of a planned demonstration last week.

Dzamara was hospitalised after he was brutally assaulted and had his vehicle burnt to a shell by suspected State-sponsored militias.

In an interview following his discharge from hospital on Tuesday, the younger brother of missing activist, Itai, Dzamara said no amount of intimidation would force him to cower.

"The harder you hit a tennis ball, the higher it bounces. I have been discharged, and I am recovering well, no major injuries and raring to go. I still have something to give. I am not finished yet. I am bigger than this. I am a testimony and I know who I am," he said.

"I am a child of God, anointed and appointed for such a time as this. No devil from hell nor Zanu PF can stop me. I am not back to join spectators, rumour mongers, naysayers or vain analysts, but I am back to hit with a big stick, as always. I can, I will and I must. To hell with the devil and his Zanu PF agents, they have been defeated already."

Dzamara said there was a lot of confusion created by misguided elements over citizens' movements and opposition parties.

He said they would be working towards galvanising efforts of citizens' movement with those of the opposition parties in order to "decapitate" Zanu PF.

"There is only one God and I will never be afraid of any other human being. If they did this thinking it would break me, too bad, this has made me stronger. It has emboldened my resolve to fight for freedom, justice and ultimately a better Zimbabwe," he said.