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Khupe fanning tribal divisions, says Tsvangirai
03 Sep 2017 at 10:55hrs | Views
MDC-T vice-president Ms Thokozani Khupe, party national chairman Mr Lovemore Moyo and suspended national organising secretary Mr Abednico Bhebhe yesterday boycotted a low-key launch of the MDC Alliance held at White City Stadium in Bulawayo as it has become apparent that the fractious opposition party is headed for another split.
The trio is against an alliance with other political parties, arguing that the party can go it alone in the Matabeleland region. MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai subtly responded to the trio's boycott with a thinly veiled dig at his deputy, whom he accused of attempting to divide the party along ethnic lines.
Ms Khupe's boycott was felt as the alliance only drew just over 2 000 supporters to the launch, despite claiming stranglehold of urban areas, particularly Bulawayo. Addressing the thrifty gathering, Mr Tsvangirai, in apparent reference to Ms Khupe, Mr Moyo and Mr Bhebhe who are all from Matabeleland, described people who promote ethnicity as dangerous.
"I'm very concerned that we are now forming different groupings and formations. Zezuru unconquerable, Karanga invincible, Ndebele hegemony. This is a very dangerous development. This country should never be divided on the basis of ethnicity. Those who are promoting ethnicity and ethnic affiliations are dangerous for this country," he said.
Mr Tsvangirai said the alliance was bigger than individual parties and leaders should not prioritise personal ambitions ahead of interests of the greater membership. In what seemed like a reluctant extension of an olive branch to his renegade deputy Mr Tsvangirai said while there may be differences within the individual political parties, dialogue should always take precedence over any other action.
"This alliance is a far bigger vision than the individual political parties that are in it. In our individual parties we may have disputes, we may have differences, but nothing beats dialogue. That is leadership. Even if you disagree with me, the first basis you must understand is that nothing beats dialogue," he said.
Mr Tsvangirai also predicted more squabbles within the opposition coalition.
"As we move to a new Zimbabwe led by the alliance, you will see that there will be squabbling here and there. Some of the disputes will be informed by individual personal interests," he said.
The trio is against an alliance with other political parties, arguing that the party can go it alone in the Matabeleland region. MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai subtly responded to the trio's boycott with a thinly veiled dig at his deputy, whom he accused of attempting to divide the party along ethnic lines.
Ms Khupe's boycott was felt as the alliance only drew just over 2 000 supporters to the launch, despite claiming stranglehold of urban areas, particularly Bulawayo. Addressing the thrifty gathering, Mr Tsvangirai, in apparent reference to Ms Khupe, Mr Moyo and Mr Bhebhe who are all from Matabeleland, described people who promote ethnicity as dangerous.
"I'm very concerned that we are now forming different groupings and formations. Zezuru unconquerable, Karanga invincible, Ndebele hegemony. This is a very dangerous development. This country should never be divided on the basis of ethnicity. Those who are promoting ethnicity and ethnic affiliations are dangerous for this country," he said.
"This alliance is a far bigger vision than the individual political parties that are in it. In our individual parties we may have disputes, we may have differences, but nothing beats dialogue. That is leadership. Even if you disagree with me, the first basis you must understand is that nothing beats dialogue," he said.
Mr Tsvangirai also predicted more squabbles within the opposition coalition.
"As we move to a new Zimbabwe led by the alliance, you will see that there will be squabbling here and there. Some of the disputes will be informed by individual personal interests," he said.
Source - sundaynews
