News / National
Mugabe panics over MDC pact prospect
19 Feb 2013 at 12:01hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe and his party Zanu-PF are terrified about the prospects of a unified Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in elections anticipated later this year, analysts say.
The panic has been exposed by shadowy Herald columnist Nathaniel Manheru who has urged the ex-majority party to brace itself for battle against the MDCs.
"Zanu-PF should brace itself for a battle that pits it against the reunited MDC factions. That is coming, and the sooner the revolutionary party gears itself up for that, the better for all nationalists," he said.
However, the ghost writer tried to downplay the effects of a united front against the 50-year-old party by saying the foreseen union was a mere ploy by the West to effect its regime change agenda, but would not achieve anything.
Although the MDC has been non-committal about the possible union, the Daily News learnt that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's faction held a Nyanga meeting where the idea of reunion was extensively discussed.
On the other hand, unity talks between the MDC leader and Welshman Ncube's faction are being reportedly pushed by Kenyan PM Raila Odinga.
This comes amid claims there is consensus within the MDCs that a united front would definitely oust Mugabe. Pedzisai Ruhanya, a director with the Zimbabwe Institute of Democracy, said if the MDC leaders were to be taken seriously by the electorate, region and broader international community, they must put their differences aside for the full democratisation of Zimbabwe.
"If Tsvangirai, Ncube and Mutambara can unite, there is no chance in hell that Zanu-PF can beat them. It will be in national interest and the greater democratisation project. The MDC leadership will win," he said.
Crucially, each of the MDC leaders had something valuable to bring to the table "since Mutambara was a great strategist and Ncube a negotiator of note, while Tsvangirai had the ability to mobilise people".
"Zanu-PF can use divisions in the MDC to rig the election, but if the MDC's are united that will be limited," Ruhanya said.
"This euphoria of unity can reinvigorate the electoral base and create a sense of victory. The fact that Zanu-PF does not want this unity is a clear sign... that this is the right thing to do. Zanu-PF knows that when it formed the patriotic front, it defeated colonialists," he added.
Ruhanya further noted that what was key was to capture the presidential vote or position.
The panic has been exposed by shadowy Herald columnist Nathaniel Manheru who has urged the ex-majority party to brace itself for battle against the MDCs.
"Zanu-PF should brace itself for a battle that pits it against the reunited MDC factions. That is coming, and the sooner the revolutionary party gears itself up for that, the better for all nationalists," he said.
However, the ghost writer tried to downplay the effects of a united front against the 50-year-old party by saying the foreseen union was a mere ploy by the West to effect its regime change agenda, but would not achieve anything.
Although the MDC has been non-committal about the possible union, the Daily News learnt that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's faction held a Nyanga meeting where the idea of reunion was extensively discussed.
On the other hand, unity talks between the MDC leader and Welshman Ncube's faction are being reportedly pushed by Kenyan PM Raila Odinga.
"If Tsvangirai, Ncube and Mutambara can unite, there is no chance in hell that Zanu-PF can beat them. It will be in national interest and the greater democratisation project. The MDC leadership will win," he said.
Crucially, each of the MDC leaders had something valuable to bring to the table "since Mutambara was a great strategist and Ncube a negotiator of note, while Tsvangirai had the ability to mobilise people".
"Zanu-PF can use divisions in the MDC to rig the election, but if the MDC's are united that will be limited," Ruhanya said.
"This euphoria of unity can reinvigorate the electoral base and create a sense of victory. The fact that Zanu-PF does not want this unity is a clear sign... that this is the right thing to do. Zanu-PF knows that when it formed the patriotic front, it defeated colonialists," he added.
Ruhanya further noted that what was key was to capture the presidential vote or position.
Source - dailynews
