I will never let you down, says Tsvangirai

Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC yesterday said it will never let the people down as it strives to form a grassroots-driven coalition before the keenly anticipated 2018 elections.

Last week, Tsvangirai and Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) leader Joice Mujuru snubbed the South African-led coalition talks where smaller parties took part.

The opposition leaders' stance drew criticism from fellow opposition counterparts.

"The MDC passionately believes in a people-driven process as opposed to a leaders-driven political discourse," MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said.

"Whilst we appreciate that a coalition of opposition political parties, if carefully structured and strategically implemented, can give the Zanu PF dictatorship a crushing and humiliating defeat in a free and fair election, the MDC is acutely mindful of the need to always take into consideration the interests of the majority of the toiling masses of Zimbabwe whenever an electoral coalition pact is to be entered into."

Former MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti, who now leads the People Democratic Party (PDP), accused Tsvangirai of overestimating his political stamina and also took a swipe at Mujuru.

Gutu said the MDC "doesn't find any value or wisdom in exchanging crude and rude personal attacks with other opposition political parties".

He said through platforms such as the National Electoral Reform Agenda, the MDC was working hard with like-minded political parties to pressure Zanu PF into implementing requisite electoral reforms before elections.

"Negotiations of such a monumental significance are never conducted in public. We have our eyes on the ball all the time and going forward, the people of Zimbabwe will be kept properly informed of the progress that is being made," Gutu said.