MDC-T pushes for opposition grand alliance

The Tendai Biti led MDC-T leadership renewal faction is courting other political parties including Professor Welshman Ncube's MDC for a grand coalition.

The faction's interim national chairperson, Dr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, yesterday said MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his "cronies" would soon lose political significance, with the mergence of a stronger and truly democratic opposition.

The leadership renewal team is breaking away from the Tsvangirai led MDC-T after Tsvangirai ignored their calls to step down and pave the way for a leadership renewal in the party.

"We are talking to all the opposition political parties in the country and these include the MDC led by Professor Ncube, Zapu led by Dumiso Dabengwa, Alliance Khumbula Ekhaya, Federal Zapu and others, with a view of forming a grand coalition" he said.

Dr Nkomo said discussions had been initiated  

For "truly democratic parties" to form a formidable opposition capable of breaking Zanu-PF's stranglehold on power in 2018.

Zanu-PF has been ruling the country since independence 34 years ago in 1980.

Dr Nkomo said: "If we don't become a big force, if we remain disunited we won't make it. We need a grand alliance and that will improve our chances in politics."

Prof Ncube has been canvassing for a coalition since he started appearing in public, after his crushing election defeat in last year's harmonized elections.

He said Biti's renewal team, just like his party, believed in collective leadership and non- violence in resolving disputes.

"It is unfortunate that it has taken these members nine years to draw the line. A historical antidote which those of you who were not in MDC in 2005 might find amazing is that many associated with the MDC-T's renewal team, when battle lines were drawn in 2005 and we were asked where we stood, many of them in terms of ideas, in terms of conviction, in terms of moral persuasion were 100 percent with us," said Professor Ncube.

He said there was a need for true democrats to recapture the spirit of 1999 when the Movement for Democratic Change was formed, which is now missing.