News / National
Tsvangirai not sincere in his 'Big Tent' proposal, says Dabengwa
11 Apr 2014 at 12:07hrs | Views
Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa ruled out joining hands with the MDC-T under its ‘bigger tent proposal', arguing former premier Morgan Tsvangirai was pre-occupied with removing President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF from power instead of forging an alliance focusing on developing the country.
Tsvangirai, who is battling an MDC-T internal revolt, recently called on the opposition to unite under what he called the bigger tent to remove Zanu-PF from power.
But Dabengwa on Wednesday came out guns blazing against Tsvangirai's proposal and accused him of habouring selfish interests. He said Tsvangirai wanted the support of the opposition to kick out Zanu PF and be thrust into power, not for the interest of the people, but himself.
"The idea of a front that Tsvangirai is talking about is not the kind of a front we can be interested in," Dabengwa said in an interview.
"I have only read about it in newspapers and we see he is only interested in a united front that will remove Mugabe and Zanu-PF from power, but he is not talking of a united front that will improve governance and the development of the country," Dabengwa said.
He added that the concept of a united front that Zapu would be comfortable with would entail the co-option of several stakeholders, regardless of their party backgrounds, with the intention of developing the country.
"What I have read in the newspapers so far does not attract me as a right move towards a proper concept of a united front," he said.
Dabengwa said the concept of a united front was introduced in 1984 and has been mooted several times, even in December 2012, some months before the 2013 elections, but it had no takers.
MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora on Wednesday said time had run out for little political fiefdoms.
He said Tsvangirai's invite was extended to all political forces with the objective of removing Zanu PF from power.
"We are saying whosoever will be our candidate for the 2018 elections will have to implement the political party's stand- point of economic, social and political dispensation in Zimbabwe," Mwonzora said.
"We are making a special appeal to our beloved brother Dabengwa and to all the democratic forces to come together and be one because time is gone for little political fiefdoms and now is the time for parties with numerical stamina to annihilate the ruling party."
Tsvangirai, who is battling an MDC-T internal revolt, recently called on the opposition to unite under what he called the bigger tent to remove Zanu-PF from power.
But Dabengwa on Wednesday came out guns blazing against Tsvangirai's proposal and accused him of habouring selfish interests. He said Tsvangirai wanted the support of the opposition to kick out Zanu PF and be thrust into power, not for the interest of the people, but himself.
"The idea of a front that Tsvangirai is talking about is not the kind of a front we can be interested in," Dabengwa said in an interview.
"I have only read about it in newspapers and we see he is only interested in a united front that will remove Mugabe and Zanu-PF from power, but he is not talking of a united front that will improve governance and the development of the country," Dabengwa said.
He added that the concept of a united front that Zapu would be comfortable with would entail the co-option of several stakeholders, regardless of their party backgrounds, with the intention of developing the country.
Dabengwa said the concept of a united front was introduced in 1984 and has been mooted several times, even in December 2012, some months before the 2013 elections, but it had no takers.
MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora on Wednesday said time had run out for little political fiefdoms.
He said Tsvangirai's invite was extended to all political forces with the objective of removing Zanu PF from power.
"We are saying whosoever will be our candidate for the 2018 elections will have to implement the political party's stand- point of economic, social and political dispensation in Zimbabwe," Mwonzora said.
"We are making a special appeal to our beloved brother Dabengwa and to all the democratic forces to come together and be one because time is gone for little political fiefdoms and now is the time for parties with numerical stamina to annihilate the ruling party."
Source - Zim Mail
