Tsvangirai swallows opposition

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai's reaching out to other opposition parties is meant to destroy smaller formations so that he is Zanu-PF's only real challenger in Zimbabwe, analysts have said.

Political and social commentators, however, said reaching out to MDC99, members of the MDC-led by Professor Welshman Ncube, and Mavambo Kusile Dawn - among others - would blow up in his face before the 2018 elections.

Observers said as long as MDC-T pursued an anti-empowerment agenda and shunned the spirit of Pan-Africanism, their message was unlikely to resonate with the majority of Zimbabweans.

Tsvangirai has roped in MDC99 leader Job Sikhala, national chairman of another splinter MDC, Jobert Mudzumwe, and some renegades from Prof Ncube's MDC, Edward Mkhosi and Siyabonga Malandu Ncube.

Midlands State University lecturer Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri said the potpourri was unlikely to make any impact in Zimbabwe's body politic.

"If this party was a party with a national vision and Pan-African ideology, surely some Zimbabweans would have wanted it to unite and oppose Zanu-PF, knowing for sure that if it happens to assume power, it would protect the people of Zimbabwe.

"We want political parties that respect the ethos of the liberation struggle, political parties that protect poor people rather than being liberal and protecting the interests of the West and the rich.

"If they want to survive, they have to review their ideology and have critical thinking for Zimbabweans to accept them," he said.

He added: "This is just a union of convenience to fight Zanu-PF and nothing else. They do not have critical thinking that can be bought by the people. They are likely to start bickering again sooner or later over posts."

Political commentator Gabriel Chaibva said those joining Tsvangirai did not appreciate that he was a "predator" who had never been a democrat.

"What he says and what he does are two different things. He is far from being a democrat and that is the reason why he wants to destroy all other opposition parties so that he remains the only puppet accepted by the West. And has no respect for the rule of law," he said.

Chaibva said events unfolding in MDC-T were difficult for many to comprehend because while some were leaving because of violence, others - who had left because of that same violence - were returning.

Recently, MDC-T deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma and youth leader Promise Mukwananzi were assaulted at Harvest House; while secretary-general Tendai Biti and another youth leader Solomon Madzore narrowly escaped the assault.

Provincial leaders in Matabeleland North and South, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Manicaland and Mangoma have since been suspended.

Sikhala defended his decision to rejoin Tsvangirai, claiming he was not seeking any leadership position in the party.

"The people are the ones who will deploy us to different positions and we are waiting for deployment. Once we start talking about positions, we will lose the bigger vision and objective of the party," he said.

Sikhala said he was meeting the MDC99 executive to apprise them of the developments and to convince them to follow him to Tsvangirai.

"The message is clear, they are supposed to follow their leader and those who think otherwise we will not force them. I know many people want to know why we did this but in the meantime we urge them to give use time to do our job," he said.