News / National
Mujuru, Tsvangirai set for collision course
08 Jun 2017 at 07:21hrs | Views
Prospects of a mooted grand opposition coalition appears to hang in the balance after one of the top contenders for the Presidency in the coalition, Joice Mujuru, stubbornly insisted that there was nothing wrong with jostling for the top post, which many coalition advocates believe should be reserved unopposed, for MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mujuru, who leads the National People's Party (NPP), appeared to be responding in kind to remarks by the other touted opposition coalition leader, Tsvangirai, who recently slammed those already speculating on positions within the coalition.
According to the VOA, Mujuru told mourners at the funeral of her aide's mother in Zvimba that "it's allowed for someone to wish for something. That's what democracy is all about. Who said so and so will have to lead an opposition coalition? We are looking for a leader and so it's allowed for one to show interest in that particular position. People are going to make a decision on this issue and are going to say not you Mister or not you Mrs …"
She reportedly insisted that some people might want to be led by someone with links to the farming community and state security agents, taking a subtle dig at Tsvangirai, who has no known farming background or exploits, nor links to the liberation struggle. Tsvangirai is also generally believed to be reviled by the security sector.
This comes hardly a fortnight after Tsvangirai warned coalition partners against jostling for positions at this point. He described those already speculating on who should hold influential positions in the coalition as "small minded opportunists".
"For some of us, the debate around the next election should never be about positions, but about conditions! Who holds what position in the new administration is a petty debate being foisted on the nation by small minds, opportunists and detractors of our people; the true sellouts of the people's struggle", he said.
Staunch MDC-T supporters and officials are on record stating that they would not accept any other leader except Tsvangirai while those within the NPP have publicly stated that Tsvangirai lacks the requisite liberation war credentials and is a failed politician.
Mujuru, who leads the National People's Party (NPP), appeared to be responding in kind to remarks by the other touted opposition coalition leader, Tsvangirai, who recently slammed those already speculating on positions within the coalition.
According to the VOA, Mujuru told mourners at the funeral of her aide's mother in Zvimba that "it's allowed for someone to wish for something. That's what democracy is all about. Who said so and so will have to lead an opposition coalition? We are looking for a leader and so it's allowed for one to show interest in that particular position. People are going to make a decision on this issue and are going to say not you Mister or not you Mrs …"
This comes hardly a fortnight after Tsvangirai warned coalition partners against jostling for positions at this point. He described those already speculating on who should hold influential positions in the coalition as "small minded opportunists".
"For some of us, the debate around the next election should never be about positions, but about conditions! Who holds what position in the new administration is a petty debate being foisted on the nation by small minds, opportunists and detractors of our people; the true sellouts of the people's struggle", he said.
Staunch MDC-T supporters and officials are on record stating that they would not accept any other leader except Tsvangirai while those within the NPP have publicly stated that Tsvangirai lacks the requisite liberation war credentials and is a failed politician.
Source - Tinotenda Mutasa
