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'MDC-T imploding because it has outlived usefulness,' says Zanu-PF
06 Jul 2014 at 12:06hrs | Views
THE MDC-T party is splintering because it has outlived its usefulness and must re-organise as a loyal opposition or risk complete collapse, a Zanu-PF legislator and politburo member has claimed.
In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com last week, Patrick Zhuwawo denied allegations that Zanu-PF was sponsoring the leadership rebellion which has rocked the country's largest opposition party.
The MDC-T has effectively split after party leader Morgan Tsvangirai rejected calls to step down following last year's election trouncing by President Robert Mugabe.
Zhuwawo said the opposition party was imploding because it no longer had a reason to live.
"If you remember very well when the MDC was formed in 1999, it was formed from the National Constitutional Assembly and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions with the main aim of pushing for the crafting and adoption of a new constitution," said the MP who is also Mugabe's nephew.
"Now that the constitution was crafted and adopted it is no longer relevant. The reasons why it was formed are no longer there and that is why you see the party collapsing. Look at history and history will never lie."
Divisions in the MDC-T pit Tsvangirai against a rival faction led by former finance minister Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma who was energy minister in the coalition government.
Tsvangirai's loyalists claim Biti and his fellow rebels were being sponsored by Zanu-PF to divide and weaken the MDC-T ahead of the 2018 elections. Biti's group dismiss the allegations as ridiculous.
Zhuwawo said the party would not recover from its current troubles unless it refashioned itself as a loyal opposition and worked with the Zanu-PF-led government to address the country's economic problems.
"I do not see this party rising up again," said the deadlocked politician.
"It has collapsed because, as I have said, its mandate is no longer there. What they need to do now is to re-organize and assist the ruling party in coming up with best advice on developing the nation and nothing else."
In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com last week, Patrick Zhuwawo denied allegations that Zanu-PF was sponsoring the leadership rebellion which has rocked the country's largest opposition party.
The MDC-T has effectively split after party leader Morgan Tsvangirai rejected calls to step down following last year's election trouncing by President Robert Mugabe.
Zhuwawo said the opposition party was imploding because it no longer had a reason to live.
"If you remember very well when the MDC was formed in 1999, it was formed from the National Constitutional Assembly and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions with the main aim of pushing for the crafting and adoption of a new constitution," said the MP who is also Mugabe's nephew.
Divisions in the MDC-T pit Tsvangirai against a rival faction led by former finance minister Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma who was energy minister in the coalition government.
Tsvangirai's loyalists claim Biti and his fellow rebels were being sponsored by Zanu-PF to divide and weaken the MDC-T ahead of the 2018 elections. Biti's group dismiss the allegations as ridiculous.
Zhuwawo said the party would not recover from its current troubles unless it refashioned itself as a loyal opposition and worked with the Zanu-PF-led government to address the country's economic problems.
"I do not see this party rising up again," said the deadlocked politician.
"It has collapsed because, as I have said, its mandate is no longer there. What they need to do now is to re-organize and assist the ruling party in coming up with best advice on developing the nation and nothing else."
Source - NewZimbabwe.com
