News / Local
Welshman Ncube's MDC open to Biti coalition
06 May 2014 at 06:45hrs | Views
THE Welshman Ncube-led MDC yesterday hinted that it was open to forging an alliance with MDC-T's renewal team as talk of a grand coalition against President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party gathers pace.
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai's camp recently accused MDC and Zanu-PF of fuelling divisions in the party following a split led by secretary-general Tendai Biti.
MDC spokesperson, Nhlanhla Dube, said his party was open to dialogue with the MDC-Team in line with efforts to form a grand coalition.
"We will not refuse the Biti/Sipepa/Mangoma group a place at the table of democracy as we attempt this noble broad coalition of democrats," Dube told Southern Eye.
He was responding to statements by interim chairperson of the MDC-Team, Samuel Sipepa-Nkomo who was quoted saying his formation is talking to MDC and Zapu, among other parties, on the possibility of a coalition.
Dube said the MDC stands ready to engage with any political party and individuals fleeing intimidation and violence in their parties – in apparent reference to the Tsvangirai camp.
Tsvangirai has been accused by Biti of using violence to stamp his authority in MDC-T.
"We have been and continue to have conversations with our alliance partners Zapu and other political parties and individuals seeking a break from the undemocratic culture of violence and intimidation in their parties," Dube said.
"We are seeking a break from individualisation of political discourse and cult leadership and as such seek the hand of all democrats who are in all spheres of our society including, but not limited to churches, students, labour, civil society, political parties, professionals, individuals and those in the Diaspora.
"Our view is that the change that has always been sought in Zimbabwe is a change of ethos which will set the country on a path of zero violence, zero corruption, zero chauvinism and other social ills which have taken over and corrupted the democratic agenda."
Biti at the weekend, said his group's long-term goal was to unite all opposition parties to fight Zanu-PF ahead of the 2018 elections.
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai's camp recently accused MDC and Zanu-PF of fuelling divisions in the party following a split led by secretary-general Tendai Biti.
MDC spokesperson, Nhlanhla Dube, said his party was open to dialogue with the MDC-Team in line with efforts to form a grand coalition.
"We will not refuse the Biti/Sipepa/Mangoma group a place at the table of democracy as we attempt this noble broad coalition of democrats," Dube told Southern Eye.
He was responding to statements by interim chairperson of the MDC-Team, Samuel Sipepa-Nkomo who was quoted saying his formation is talking to MDC and Zapu, among other parties, on the possibility of a coalition.
Dube said the MDC stands ready to engage with any political party and individuals fleeing intimidation and violence in their parties – in apparent reference to the Tsvangirai camp.
Tsvangirai has been accused by Biti of using violence to stamp his authority in MDC-T.
"We have been and continue to have conversations with our alliance partners Zapu and other political parties and individuals seeking a break from the undemocratic culture of violence and intimidation in their parties," Dube said.
"We are seeking a break from individualisation of political discourse and cult leadership and as such seek the hand of all democrats who are in all spheres of our society including, but not limited to churches, students, labour, civil society, political parties, professionals, individuals and those in the Diaspora.
"Our view is that the change that has always been sought in Zimbabwe is a change of ethos which will set the country on a path of zero violence, zero corruption, zero chauvinism and other social ills which have taken over and corrupted the democratic agenda."
Biti at the weekend, said his group's long-term goal was to unite all opposition parties to fight Zanu-PF ahead of the 2018 elections.
Source - Southern Eye
