Opposition grand coalition, wishful thinking

Since 2002 there has been a hullabaloo about the formation of a coalition of opposition parties. A number of private meetings, which have never materialized had been held now and again by opposition leaders. As it stands, the grand coalition is suffering stillbirth, an indication that the coalition is a just a pipe dream that will never turn into concrete alliance.

The key reason behind the collapse of the grand coalition of opposition parties is their leaders. The personalities and egomania of opposition leaders is a major blockage of the much talked coalition and non existing union.

First and foremost, the question that comes into people's minds is who will lead the coalition? According to Gorden Moyo, People Democratic Party secretary general, the opposition parties that are likely to merge include, his party which is led by Tendai Biti,  Joice Mujuru's Zimbabwe People First (ZPF), ZAPU which is led by Dumiso Dabengwa, Elton Mangoma's Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe and the National Constitutional Assembly led by Lovemore Madhuku.

From the look of things, most of the above mentioned leaders are rejects from other political parties. Almost all of them were expelled from their original parties because their wanted to usurp power from their former bosses. So, the question remains who will lead who?
A closer look at the grand coalition characters confirms that no one is fit and clean lead others.   

Firstly, Mujuru's recently registered opposition party ZPF is nothing but a party in its infants. There are other opposition parties that have been there as early as in 2000. Would these parties allow to be lead by a 'mafikizolo'?  One would really wonder.

In addition, Mujuru has so far been accused of the big sister attitude by other opposition parties. Besides that, the political background of the former Vice President will not permit her to lead the coalition. Mujuru was expelled from the ruling party ZANU-PF because she wanted to remove President Mugabe from power unconstitutionally as well as abusing her office for corrupt activities. Can a corrupt leader like Mujuru effectively the coalition?

Quoted in a local weekly press, MDC-T Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora noted that his party was willing to work with anyone opposed to ZANU-PF irrespective of their numerical value.

However, Mwonzora statements contradict with what his boss Morgan Tsvangirai recently said. Tsvangirai dismissed the idea to merge with other opposition parties. While addressing a handful of people at a rally in Chinhoyi, Tsvangirai openly said that his party will not enter into an alliance with Mujuru's ZPF.

Additionally, Tsvangirai said he will not risk his party by joining Mujuru's new party; instead, Mujuru should join him. Tsvangirai claims that he is a veteran in the opposition politics whilst on the other hand Mujuru boasts of her liberation war credentials.

Such attitudes are by opposition leaders is a clear-cut that this coalition of opposition parties is just a wishful thinking.

They both have very strong points, but their weaknesses are all too glaring and instead of focusing on why they will not join each other,