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Biti takes MDC-T fight to Sadc
16 Aug 2014 at 04:02hrs | Views
MDC-renewal faction frontman, Tendai Biti, has taken the fight for control of the party and political relevance to the regional corridors of power.
In a 26-page document, a copy of which The Zimbabwe Mail has in its possession and sent to envoys on behalf of Sadc Heads of State ahead of the regional block's annual summit currently underway in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Biti took aim at his erstwhile comrade and ex-premier Morgan Tsvangirai and the government.
Biti, in the letter directed to South African ambassador to Zimbabwe, Vusi Mavimbela, specifically addresses South African leader Jacob Zuma, saying "You have unfinished business with Zimbabwe".
"I refer to our telephone conversation of August 5 2014. As the MDC renewal team, it is our intention to seek audience with His Excellency President Jacob Zuma during the Sadc summit to brief him on political and economic developments in Zimbabwe," Biti said in a letter dated August 6.
"In this regard, we kindly request your office to assist in arranging this meeting on the sidelines of the 34th session of the Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit taking place in Victoria Falls".
From the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe to the leadership fight within the opposition MDC-T, Biti puts his case in Zuma's lap calling on Sadc and the African Union (AU) to rescue the country and its citizens.
Zimbabwe's Finance minister during the coalition government prior to last year's elections said the current crisis manifests "itself in five forms, namely the crisis of legitimacy, governance, leadership, the economy, the social and the moral crisis", adding his "party" may provide a "possible solution, including the 16-point economic plan".
He reminded Zuma that Sadc and the AU had "begrudgingly declared the (last year's July elections won by President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF) election free and fair. There were serious anomalies in the election" adding Zimbabwe remained a "black spot" in the region.
As part of the solution Biti proposed the convening of an all-stakeholders' dialogue on the economy, immediate leveraging of Zimbabwe's resources in the mining sector and addressing of Zimbabwe's debt question as well as unconditional re-engagement with the rest of the world without exception.
Biti then laid into Tsvangirai with a scathing assessment referring to the veteran opposition strongman as "the leader".
"The leader was clearly outsmarted by his co-principal in government, Mugabe, and miserably failed to push the reform agenda, which was the primary reason of joining government. The result was that of a party entering an election before the reform agenda was completed.
"Very sadly the leader's own personal indiscretions, lack of restraint, lack of judgment and an extravagant taste for high seas and high life, all done in the public glare, regrettably brought the party into disrepute," the document said.
In a 26-page document, a copy of which The Zimbabwe Mail has in its possession and sent to envoys on behalf of Sadc Heads of State ahead of the regional block's annual summit currently underway in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Biti took aim at his erstwhile comrade and ex-premier Morgan Tsvangirai and the government.
Biti, in the letter directed to South African ambassador to Zimbabwe, Vusi Mavimbela, specifically addresses South African leader Jacob Zuma, saying "You have unfinished business with Zimbabwe".
"I refer to our telephone conversation of August 5 2014. As the MDC renewal team, it is our intention to seek audience with His Excellency President Jacob Zuma during the Sadc summit to brief him on political and economic developments in Zimbabwe," Biti said in a letter dated August 6.
"In this regard, we kindly request your office to assist in arranging this meeting on the sidelines of the 34th session of the Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit taking place in Victoria Falls".
From the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe to the leadership fight within the opposition MDC-T, Biti puts his case in Zuma's lap calling on Sadc and the African Union (AU) to rescue the country and its citizens.
He reminded Zuma that Sadc and the AU had "begrudgingly declared the (last year's July elections won by President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF) election free and fair. There were serious anomalies in the election" adding Zimbabwe remained a "black spot" in the region.
As part of the solution Biti proposed the convening of an all-stakeholders' dialogue on the economy, immediate leveraging of Zimbabwe's resources in the mining sector and addressing of Zimbabwe's debt question as well as unconditional re-engagement with the rest of the world without exception.
Biti then laid into Tsvangirai with a scathing assessment referring to the veteran opposition strongman as "the leader".
"The leader was clearly outsmarted by his co-principal in government, Mugabe, and miserably failed to push the reform agenda, which was the primary reason of joining government. The result was that of a party entering an election before the reform agenda was completed.
"Very sadly the leader's own personal indiscretions, lack of restraint, lack of judgment and an extravagant taste for high seas and high life, all done in the public glare, regrettably brought the party into disrepute," the document said.
Source - The Zim Mail
