Didymus Mutasa's phone call to Mugabe backfires

ZIMBABWE People First party elder Mr Didymus Mutasa's recent phone call to President Mugabe has backfired after some opposition parties labelled him a "Judas Iscariot" bound to fall by the wayside in the coalition talks being mooted ahead of the 2018 general elections.

Some of the opposition parties that spoke to our Harare Bureau on Thursday said the proposed coalition was a union of sinners that could not be trusted.

As for MDC-T, it skirted around the matter of coalition choosing to say their leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai would make an announcement at the appropriate time.

Professor Lovemore Madhuku of the National Constitutional Assembly, said he was totally against the idea of a coalition.

He said his party would go it alone in the 2018 harmonised elections.

Mr Mutasa, who was expelled from Zanu-PF for his close ties with former Vice President Joice Mujuru, recently phoned President Mugabe.
President Mugabe said Mr Mutasa inquired about his health and family's well-being, but later claimed that his call had the blessings of other opposition parties who wanted to meet him.

People's Democratic Party spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume said in politics, there was no need to trust people.

"We do not need to trust people," he said. "We just work with them to achieve the common goal of a better Zimbabwe."

Asked if they did not feel betrayed by the unusual call by Mr Mutasa to President Mugabe, Mr Mafume said: "This is a coalition of sinners and not perfect people. Despite having Judas Iscariot, Christianity has grown to be the biggest religion in the country. The Judas Iscariots in this coalition will have to carry their crosses."

Mr Mafume, however, said they still felt that a coalition was still necessary to fight Zanu-PF in 2018.

Prof Madhuku said there was no room for his party to join hands with the existing opposition parties before 2018 elections.

"It is difficult to advance your views if they are not shared by the existing parties," he said. "Politics is not about coalitions. We do not want a two-party state, but a multiplicity of political parties and the choice is made by the voter. Allow the voter to have a choice from a multi-party system."

He said his party did not share the same ideology with other opposition parties because they took part in crafting the current Constitution.

Prof Madhuku said his party did not subscribe to the current Constitution and was advocating for constitutional reforms.

MDC-T was non-committal to categorically state its position relating to coalition talks, following Mr Mutasa's call to President Mugabe.

The party's spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu said: "In the MDC, we have got a very clearly defined and structured approach to all matters to do with coalitions.

"President Morgan Tsvangirai is personally handling all issues to do with coalitions. He is a very seasoned and talented political operator.

Everything is under control. We are not under pressure at all. At the appropriate point in time, our leader will make the relevant announcement pertaining to coalitions."

MDC-N spokesperson Mr Kurauone Chihwayi said: "We are not desperate to the extent of going to bed with serial flip-floppers and the Nicodemuses of this world."