Discord in Zimbabwean political parties: The way forward! Bulawayo and Gwanda discuss

Bulawayo Agenda and its affiliate Gwanda Agenda will today (Thursday) and Saturday bring together members of the public into a discussion forum to discuss the future of Zimbabwean politics in the wake of discords in almost all the political parties in the country.

The discussions on the topic "Discord in ZImbabwean political parties: The way forward" kick off today at Bulawayo Club with representatives from the major political parties leading the discussion on the podium. Of particular shock is the appearance as a separate entity of the so called Tendai Biti faction of the MDC T on the podium rivaling the Morgan Tsvangirai faction.

Acting National Chairman of the Tendai Biti faction known as the MDC Team will be represented on the podium by interim National Chairman Samuel Siphepha Nkomo while the Tsvangirai faction will be represented by the MDC Tsvangirai National Chairman Lovemore Moyo. The ruling ZANU PF will be represented by Bulawayo Provincial Chairman Dr Callistus Ndlovu. Dumiso Dabengwa led ZAPU will be represented by the party Secretary General Dr Strike Mkandla while the Welshman Ncube led MDC will be represented by the party spokesperson Nhlanhla Bahlangene Dube to complete what is expected to be a very hot debate.

On Saturday afternoon, the discussion move across town to Matabeleland South capital Gwanda at the Red Cross Hall in Jahunda Township where former Gwanda North MP Thandeko ZInti Mkandla of the MDC T (proberly Tsvangirai faction) will be representing his party against perennial rival from the Welshman Ncube led MDC Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo. The two politicians clashed heavily during the campaign period the run up to the July 31 election where the two were expected to fight it out as candidates for their respective parties before Maduma Fuzwayo pulled out of the race at the last minute to pave way for party Treasurer General Paul Themba Nyathi.

Joining the rivals from Gwanda North on the podium will be Mr Albert Nhliziyo representing the civil society while ZANU PF still have to confirm who their representative will be in the public debate. Unlike previous incidents where ZANU PF has always snubbed invitations from Gwanda Agenda public debates except where Gwanda Central Member of Parliament Edison Gumbo has attended on specific invitation, this time the ruling party has shown great interest in seconding a representative to the discussion though opting to keep their representative a secret. Certainly ZANU PF has a bigger interest in the discussion as they try to prove what they always call the irrelevance of its oppositions.

The public discussions come in the wake of serious discords in all the major political parties in the country. The ruling ZANU PF is involved in serious succession battles with the party torn apart as to who will take over from President Robert Mugabe who is expected to retire in August next year. The Morgan TSvangirai led MDC T is arguable the worst affected in terms of divisions with the party torn apart into two factions one calling for the renewal of party leadership particularly party president Morgan Tsvangirai and one against the removal of Tsvangirai. Though the party continues to dispel their position to be as good as a split, on the ground it is apparent the party has split into two parties the MDC Team and the MDC Tsvangirai.

The Welshman Ncube led MDC appears to have less of worries than its bigger rivals. The party which garnered a mere 2% of the national vote in the last election has been going through mass defections of its senior leadership amid claims that the party is not practicing its devolution of power principle by reserving decision making to only its top leadership without consulting the grassroots. The Dumiso Dabengwa ZAPU is also having troubles of its own as it battles against extinction because of its lack of membership drive and funding.

Very fierce discussion are expected to take place in the two dialogues as the parties seek to out wit each other in the public to see who is who of the parties. In Bulawayo focus will certainly be between the two MDC T factions as people seek to see who is the better of the two factions. In Gwanda, without doubt the battle will be between the two Gwanda North Constituency rivals, Zinti Mkandla and Maduma Fuzwayo, who in the run up to the election spoke strongly and interestingly against each other in their campaigns.

Full house participation is expected on both occasions.