MDC-99 members refuse to follow Sikhala

MDC-99 members will not follow their former leader Mr Job Sikhala to the opposition MDC-T as they announced yesterday plans to join the United Democratic Front proposed by secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti.

This blows off steam from the so-called reunion of MDC-T former members suggested by Mr Morgan Tsvangrai as the leaders who have come back so far do not have supporters.

Mr Sikhala, two officials from the Professor Welshman Ncube-led MDC, Mr Edward Mkhosi and Siyabonga Malandu Ncube and secretary-general of another MDC faction Mr Jobert Mudzumwe are the only individuals who have heeded Mr Tsvangirai's call.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, MDC-99 acting president Mr Gideon Magadzira said the troubled party was now dead and buried, adding they were waiting to join the proposed UDF.

"(We are joining) an alternative party that has come under the umbrella word of the United Democratic Front. These are fronts of progressive forces with credible ideas, which will sit together and come up with strategies to tackle the issue of leadership in the country," he said.

"In the UDF, we want to work with so many fronts. We are working with the likes of Zapu, Professor Welshman Ncube and even Zanu-Ndonga and we have some pockets in both the MDC-T and Zanu-PF who support us."

Mr Biti recently proposed the formation of a new political movement that recognises values and the ethos of the liberation struggle to challenge Zanu-PF, signifying a complete break with his own party.

However, Mr Biti and his MDC Team Renewal have tried to conceal the formation of a breakaway political outfit.
He said this at SAPES Trust policy dialogue on March 6 this year.

Mr Magadzira said they were going to work with the MDC Team that was calling for leadership change in the opposition MDC-T.
"We are aware of the emergence of the renewal team within the MDC and we would like to state categorically that we share their views and aspirations to revitalise efforts to democratise Zimbabwe," he said.

He denounced MDC leader Mr Tsvangirai and blamed him for failing the country.
"Morgan Tsvangirai has reached his upper limit and is no longer fit to govern. It is with regret that Zimbabweans have had 15 years of their time wasted by Tsvangirai who has turned out to not to be a democrat, someone without vision, a flip flopper, a man who suffers from indecision, needs to retrace his moral compass and offers no hope for the future," said Mr Magadzira.

The now defunct United Movement for Democracy (UMD) secretary-general, Mr Tafirenyika Chikwati who also addressed the media, called on all minor political parties to come together and join the proposed UDF.

"We are happy with what the MDC led by Mr Morgan Tsvangirai did in the process of democracy, but its system is falling short. So we are calling on all progressive forces in Zimbabwe and minor political parties so that we become a united front to tackle the challenges of this country," said Mr Chikwati.

MDC-99 leader Mr Job Sikhala rejoined Mr Tsvangirai led party after he abandoned his party which he formed in 2010 after breaking away from Professor Arthur Mutambara's MDC faction.

The MDC-T leader is so desperate to gain power and last year he formed a coalition with Mavambo Khusile Dawn leader Dr Simba Makoni and Mr Reketai Semwayo reportedly representing Zanu-Ndonga.

However, it emerged that Mr Tsvangirai had signed a pact with Mr Semwayo who was actually his party member and was contesting the elections on an MDC-T ticket and had been disowned by his own Zanu-Ndonga party.