News / Local
Tsvangirai engages Mujuru in private coalition talks
05 Dec 2016 at 04:43hrs | Views
Former rivals MDC-T president, Morgan Tsvangirai and interim leader of Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) Joyce Mujuru are engaged in intense secret talks which are said to be at an advanced stage.
At the heart of the talks is the formation of the much publisiced grand coalition that is aimed at toppling President Robert Mugabe.
According to reports, ZimPF spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire, confirmed the development's but was cagey on shedding light.
"We have agreed we will not talk to each other in newspapers, neither will we, at any point, be persuaded to divulge details of our discussions with any political party in newspapers. Our discussions with anyone remain confidential," he is quoted saying by private media.
On the other hand, MDC-T vice-president, Pastor Nelson Chamisa said members would soon be briefed on the talks.
"Our national executive committee and the national councils will be meeting soon to define parameters and benchmarks on convergence and consensus on conditions of elections and the electoral framework," he said.
However, the revelations of secret talks that have exclude other opposition groups might widen divisions.
Last week, People's Democratic Party (PDP) launched a sharp rebuke on Tsvangirai for advancing his long standing 'big brother mentality' on forming a grand coalition.
In a statement, the Tendai Biti led PDP without mentioning names but giving well known pointers on Tsvangirai said some opposition parties are against a grand coalition due to a 'big brother mentality'.
It said the anti-coalition camp is working with Zanu PF's Lactose faction fronted by vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa in forming a ' Government of national unity before 2018 elections'
"The biggest lesson over the past 2 decades is that no single individual or group on its own can effect political change against the Zanu PF dictatorship.
"Therefore, no one political actor should delude themselves into thinking that without their participation, a coalition is not possible.
"Thus the PDP believes that only a united opposition, an alliance of democratic forces against the dictatorship will remove the dictator.
"In this regard, grand coalitions cannot be built on the basis of big brother mentalities, but Zimbabwe's political coalitions must consist of all democratic political parties, student groups, the church, the workers, farmers and ordinary citizens,".
At the heart of the talks is the formation of the much publisiced grand coalition that is aimed at toppling President Robert Mugabe.
According to reports, ZimPF spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire, confirmed the development's but was cagey on shedding light.
"We have agreed we will not talk to each other in newspapers, neither will we, at any point, be persuaded to divulge details of our discussions with any political party in newspapers. Our discussions with anyone remain confidential," he is quoted saying by private media.
On the other hand, MDC-T vice-president, Pastor Nelson Chamisa said members would soon be briefed on the talks.
"Our national executive committee and the national councils will be meeting soon to define parameters and benchmarks on convergence and consensus on conditions of elections and the electoral framework," he said.
However, the revelations of secret talks that have exclude other opposition groups might widen divisions.
Last week, People's Democratic Party (PDP) launched a sharp rebuke on Tsvangirai for advancing his long standing 'big brother mentality' on forming a grand coalition.
In a statement, the Tendai Biti led PDP without mentioning names but giving well known pointers on Tsvangirai said some opposition parties are against a grand coalition due to a 'big brother mentality'.
It said the anti-coalition camp is working with Zanu PF's Lactose faction fronted by vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa in forming a ' Government of national unity before 2018 elections'
"The biggest lesson over the past 2 decades is that no single individual or group on its own can effect political change against the Zanu PF dictatorship.
"Therefore, no one political actor should delude themselves into thinking that without their participation, a coalition is not possible.
"Thus the PDP believes that only a united opposition, an alliance of democratic forces against the dictatorship will remove the dictator.
"In this regard, grand coalitions cannot be built on the basis of big brother mentalities, but Zimbabwe's political coalitions must consist of all democratic political parties, student groups, the church, the workers, farmers and ordinary citizens,".
Source - Byo24News
