Biti proposes new political party

MDC-T secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti has proposed the formation of a new political movement that recognises the ethos of the liberation struggle to challenge Zanu-PF, signifying a complete break with his own party.

The party, Mr Biti said, would be called the United Democratic Front and would bring together existing opposition parties and civic society.

"We have to build a UDF, a United Democratic Front," he said at SAPES Trust policy dialogue on March 6, 2014. We have to build a United Democratic Front that is ready for an explosion that can take place in this country; that is also ready to talk to the many progressing forces that I know are in the liberation movement.

"And also this UDF, I am proposing must find accommodation within the liberation struggle. We can't put a durawall (precast wall) with the liberation struggle.

"The liberation struggle is not our enemy. It liberated some of us. Some of us could be uneducated fools herding cattle in Murewa."

Mr Biti's statement is a complete departure from the political thrust for long pursued by MDC-T, which was created with financial, moral and technical support by European countries and NGOs as well as American organisations specifically to erode Zanu-PF's liberation-centred Government policies.

Political analysts said the proposal by Mr Biti was a clear indication he had lost faith in MDC-T and its leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, who has failed to defeat President Mugabe and Zanu-PF in six consecutive elections.

Mr Godwine Mureriwa said the remarks were likely a reaction to the thrust that the National Constitutional Assembly, led by Professor Madhuku, which sought to redefine opposition politics in Zimbabwe by recognising the importance of nationalism ahead of neo-liberalism.

"It is a synthesis of the old opposition from the Western thrust to Pan-Africanism. This is also coming in the wake of donor fatigue from the West.

"It is also an admission of the doom that MDC-T definitely faces.  It is now clear that their doom is inevitable considering that this is coming from the secretary-general, the chief executive of the party," said Mr Mureriwa.

War veterans leader Cde Jabulani Sibanda said Mr Biti could live to the word and spirit of his remarks by simply joining Zanu-PF .....  he must not try to be a right among the wrong.

"He would rather be a wrong among the right. He must completely leave MDC-T and join Zanu-PF. We know they will accuse him of being wrong but at least he would be among the right.

"Biti is a good lawyer, we expect him to be in Europe defending the liberation struggle; in the US, telling them that the sanctions are wrong; at the African Union saying Africa must unite and stand as one.

"He can't say he wants an opposition party that recognises the armed struggle and not recognise the party that organised that armed struggle.

"He can't enjoy the taste of an orange and condemn the tree that produces it.  He cannot try and amalgamate the minds of counter-revolutionaries, reactionaries and corrupt citizens to try and lead the country.

"Now we expect them to join the organisation that gave them roots.  How can he say he will recognise the armed struggle without recognising Cde Mugabe and his colleagues who organised that struggle?" asked Cde Sibanda.

Mr Biti is reported to be the power behind a push - whose public face has been party deputy treasurer Mr Elton Mangoma - within MDC-T to oust Mr Tsvangirai.