Tsvangirai calls for unity within MDC-T

THE MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called for an end of widening rifts within the party so that the opposition party continues on its herculean task to dislodge Zanu-PF from power.
According to Radio Dialogue, Tsvangirai said this during an address at a star rally in Mkoba Stadium, Gweru, yesterday that was attended by National Provincial leaders.
The embattled leader stressed on the need to revisit party structures and rejuvenate the party  following a massive blow after they lost to Zanu-PF during 2013 harmonised elections.
"We have to be united as a party and understand the values of MDC-T. We are going back to the structures country wide, and we cannot give up because of the sacrifices that we have gone through," he said.
Tsvangirai reiterated that unity was the only way  the party would move forward to remove the current Zanu-PF government at the helm of power.
The MDC-T leader believes that MDC-T is Zimbabwe's last hope to address economic ills being experienced by ordinary people as the economy has taken nose dive.
"Solidarity amongst us as a party is the only way we can fight. I have no intention of ruling the party forever, but until MDC is given the opportunity to rule the country, that is the only way that I will step down and set the pace for others,
"We have to reflect back and ask ourselves on what we want. Unity within the party is the only way out to solve this," he said.
The MDC-T leader further called for Zanu-PF to consider going back on the negotiating table as the current economic situation does not permit people to wait for 2018 harmonised elections given the current fall out on service delivery and "false promises" that have not yet been fulfilled.
Elections, he said were not free and fair and the Zanu-PF government had no capacity to solve the problems bedevilling the country.
"Mugabe and Zanu-PF are a problem. Mugabe should sit down with people and solve problems being faced in the country and fulfil promises that were made during the campaign in the run up to the 2013 harmonised elections.
"The 2013 harmonised elections were not free and fair and we have to go back to the negotiating table because service delivery in the government has worsened as a result corruption in government parastatals. Zanu-PF has no potential to solve the problems we are  facing in the country," he said.
Meanwhile, Job Sikhala also echoed the same sentiments as Tsvangirai, and said the party should focus on unity and continue questioning government policies.
"Some people are calling for party renewal, but we are focusing on uniting the party. People who are calling for party renewal are sellouts who are on Zanu-PF payroll. Let us deal with Mugabe as he only understands the language of confrontation," said Sikhala.
The bid to quell MDC-T intra infighting in Midlands Province comes after party supporters aligned to former Kwekwe MP, Blessing Chebundo chanted slogans denouncing the party's Mbizo MP, Settlement Chikwinya during a rally addressed by Tsvangirai last week.
The fallout occurred in Zhombe were the party leader addressed party supporters to assure party supporters that the party was still intact, despite internal infighting that had rocked the top MDC-T leadership.
It is alleged that Chebundo's followers accused Chikwinya of being sympathetic to suspended MDC-T deputy treasurer, Elton Mangoma and belonging to a camp that is pushing for Tsvangirai's ouster.