News / National
MDC, Zapu rule out grand coalition against Zanu-PF
07 Jun 2013 at 03:58hrs | Views
ZAPU and the MDC formation led by Professor Welshman Ncube yesterday ruled out the possibility of a grand coalition against Zanu-PF among opposition political parties saying the parties' meeting on Wednesday had nothing to do with forming any alliance.
Zanu-PF has also scoffed at the parties' meeting, which sought to reverse the ruling by the Constitutional Court to have elections by 31 July.
In an interview, Zapu president Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, who once described the MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai as a "little Chiluba" who cannot be trusted, said the Wednesday meeting was only meant to broker dialogue between parties ahead of the Sadc special summit which was set for Maputo, Mozambique, this weekend but has since been cancelled.
"We met because there was a common issue of interest and we wanted to speak with one voice. The meeting had nothing to do with forming a coalition against any party. We only needed to make a joint statement to Sadc," said Dr Dabengwa.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said the parties' decision to oppose the court ruling exposed the naivety of their leaders. "The decision by these parties is preposterous. How can these parties group together to come up with ridiculous views on a final court ruling," said Gumbo.
"This confirms our views that these are sponsored parties dancing to the tune of their masters. There is no reason at all for them to meet to challenge the ruling by the highest court in the land. We dismiss these views with the contempt they deserve."
Gumbo said President Mugabe, who has agreed to comply with the court ruling, would soon proclaim the election date which would be binding to everyone.
"We cannot allow people who claim to be advocates of democracy challenging the rule of law.
"Which court do they want to recognise? Their decision is of no effect. They are trying to apply student politics on national politics and that is ridiculous and nonsensical," said Gumbo.
The Professor Welshman Ncube led MDC also dismissed views that the Wednesday meeting was meant to form a coalition against Zanu-PF.
"That meeting as far as we know had nothing to do with any grand coalition. Party leaders basically met to talk about how to have common ground towards the holding of polls," MDC spokesperson Mr Nhlanhla Dube said. "Our position has been clear on the issue of the coalition and we have not changed. We stand guided by the resolution of our congress."
The MDC is on record saying it was not going to enter into any coalition especially with the MDC-T, which they have repeatedly accused of corruption and violent behaviour.
On Wednesday the leaders of Zapu and the two MDC formations met their Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD) and Zanu Ndonga counterparts and resolved to oppose last week's decision by the Constitutional Court, which directed President Mugabe to proclaim by 29 June dates for elections, and hold the polls by 31 July.
President Mugabe has since said he would announce the poll dates when he returns from Japan where he was attending the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
He said he would not listen to further calls to delay the elections, which constitutionally were due by end of this month.
Leaders of the five parties, Mr Tsvangirai (MDC-T), Professor Ncube (MDC), Dr Simba Makoni (MKD), Dr Dabengwa (Zapu) and Mr Wilson Khumbula of Zanu Ndonga, said reforms should be implemented before elections could be held.
The parties said they would be taking their position to Sadc, which was due to hold a special meeting on Zimbabwe in Maputo, Mozambique this weekend. That meeting was cancelled.
They however, said they were ready to participate in a "credible, free and fair election" on condition a number of reforms had been implemented.
The reforms vary from electoral to media changes, which the leaders said must be addressed before polls can be held.
Sadc is the facilitator to the Global Political Agreement, which led to the establishment of the coalition Government in Zimbabwe five years ago.
Zanu-PF has also scoffed at the parties' meeting, which sought to reverse the ruling by the Constitutional Court to have elections by 31 July.
In an interview, Zapu president Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, who once described the MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai as a "little Chiluba" who cannot be trusted, said the Wednesday meeting was only meant to broker dialogue between parties ahead of the Sadc special summit which was set for Maputo, Mozambique, this weekend but has since been cancelled.
"We met because there was a common issue of interest and we wanted to speak with one voice. The meeting had nothing to do with forming a coalition against any party. We only needed to make a joint statement to Sadc," said Dr Dabengwa.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said the parties' decision to oppose the court ruling exposed the naivety of their leaders. "The decision by these parties is preposterous. How can these parties group together to come up with ridiculous views on a final court ruling," said Gumbo.
"This confirms our views that these are sponsored parties dancing to the tune of their masters. There is no reason at all for them to meet to challenge the ruling by the highest court in the land. We dismiss these views with the contempt they deserve."
Gumbo said President Mugabe, who has agreed to comply with the court ruling, would soon proclaim the election date which would be binding to everyone.
"We cannot allow people who claim to be advocates of democracy challenging the rule of law.
"Which court do they want to recognise? Their decision is of no effect. They are trying to apply student politics on national politics and that is ridiculous and nonsensical," said Gumbo.
The Professor Welshman Ncube led MDC also dismissed views that the Wednesday meeting was meant to form a coalition against Zanu-PF.
"That meeting as far as we know had nothing to do with any grand coalition. Party leaders basically met to talk about how to have common ground towards the holding of polls," MDC spokesperson Mr Nhlanhla Dube said. "Our position has been clear on the issue of the coalition and we have not changed. We stand guided by the resolution of our congress."
The MDC is on record saying it was not going to enter into any coalition especially with the MDC-T, which they have repeatedly accused of corruption and violent behaviour.
On Wednesday the leaders of Zapu and the two MDC formations met their Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD) and Zanu Ndonga counterparts and resolved to oppose last week's decision by the Constitutional Court, which directed President Mugabe to proclaim by 29 June dates for elections, and hold the polls by 31 July.
President Mugabe has since said he would announce the poll dates when he returns from Japan where he was attending the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.
He said he would not listen to further calls to delay the elections, which constitutionally were due by end of this month.
Leaders of the five parties, Mr Tsvangirai (MDC-T), Professor Ncube (MDC), Dr Simba Makoni (MKD), Dr Dabengwa (Zapu) and Mr Wilson Khumbula of Zanu Ndonga, said reforms should be implemented before elections could be held.
The parties said they would be taking their position to Sadc, which was due to hold a special meeting on Zimbabwe in Maputo, Mozambique this weekend. That meeting was cancelled.
They however, said they were ready to participate in a "credible, free and fair election" on condition a number of reforms had been implemented.
The reforms vary from electoral to media changes, which the leaders said must be addressed before polls can be held.
Sadc is the facilitator to the Global Political Agreement, which led to the establishment of the coalition Government in Zimbabwe five years ago.
Source - chronicle
