Donors in bid to re-unite Tsvangirai with 'expelled' Biti

DONORS are reportedly warming up to re-engagement with MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai amid reports that a meeting has been set for South Africa next week to discuss how to continue working with the party following turmoil that has divided the party.

Sources to the NewsDay yesterday said Tsvangirai would next week meet with a team representing the donor community at a yet-to-be identified rendezvous.

"We will be going next week for that meeting. It's a meeting with donors and I don't know what it is about or why it was called, but I think they want to engage after realising that Tsvangirai still has grassroots support," said the source.

"They are willing to continue supporting the struggle, but they want a united MDC. They say you can't have an MDC-T without Tendai Biti or Tsvangirai, hence efforts are being made to unite the warring factions. That is also likely to feature in that meeting," said the source.

The sources said the meeting was called to mend the rift created by the fallout between Tsvangirai and "expelled" secretary-general Biti. It, however, was not immediately clear who had organised the meeting and whether the Biti faction had been invited.

MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora could neither confirm nor deny reports about the planned meeting.
"I can't confirm that, but all I can say is it's obvious that the people are serious to realise change and they identify with Morgan Tsvangirai," he said.

Following his fallout with Biti, Tsvangirai has held several rallies which attracted huge crowds which analysts described as indicative of his unfailing support base.

The alleged meeting comes amid reports that Tsvangirai's faction was facing a financial crisis following the alleged withdrawal of the party's key donors after his defeat by President Robert Mugabe in last year's election.

Contacted yesterday for comment on whether they would accept reunification with Tsvangirai, spokesperson for the Biti faction Jacob Mafume said that there was no room for fresh negotiations.

Said Mafume:"With Tsvangirai, our position is simple. The mediation should be between the new Tsvangirai and the old Tsvangirai. That's the only time we can talk to him. The new Tsvangirai is personalising the struggle, benefiting from corruption in the Zanu PF house which is bigger than a small clinic. We are starting a new path and a grand coalition. What people forget is Zanu PF is a grand coalition itself and we have all along been losing to a coalition."