Zim Grand coalition preps gather momentum

Preparations for the formation of a grand opposition coalition that apparently excludes former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have gathered momentum ahead of a planned national convention, The Zimbabwe Mail has learnt.

Insiders yesterday said there was a meeting of at least four political parties last week that Tsvangirai snubbed despite having been invited.

"There was a meeting last week in Harare where representatives of the MDC-T's renewal group, Dumiso Dabengwa's Zapu, Simba Makoni's Mavambo/Kusile Dawn and Welshman Ncube's MDC gathered to cobble the modalities of the coalition framed in the mould of the United Democratic Front (UDF) by nationalists forces prior to South Africa's all-race elections 20 years ago," said the impeccable source.

It is also understood that there will be three representatives from each party in all future meetings while civil society organisations would be roped in before the convention.

"From what we gather, Tsvangirai was invited but refused to attend. Zapu was represented by president Dabengwa and his deputy Emilia Mukaratirwa, MDC-T had Welshman Ncube and his vice Edwin Mushoriwa while the other faction of MDC-T had Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma. Makoni also attended with his entourage," the source said.

"The convention that you have heard will come up with resolutions that will give birth to a structure like the one that is in South Africa where the ruling Africa National Congress (ANC) is in a governing coalition with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Communist Party".

Media reports have revealed that Anglican Church cleric Sebastian Bakare has been earmarked as the convenor of the convention whose dates are yet to be provided. A meeting  with civic society leaders has also been slated for this week to sound them out on the idea, according to close sources.

Mushoriwa, while denying that there were plans for the formation of a "UDF", said opposition parties were working towards a people's convention.

"I am aware of work around a Working People's Convention and if there is anything that will come out of that resulting in the UDF you are talking about, then it is something else. Suffice to say as a party we have always called on the opposition to come together for the good of the people," said Mushoriwa.

However a senior figure in the Ncube led MDC confirmed on condition of anonymity the party's top two had attended the meeting.

"It is true they (Ncube and Mushoriwa) attended and the third person was Miriam Mushayi our director for strategy and planning," The Zimbabwe Mail heard.

Veteran nationalist Dabengwa who now leads a revived Zapu that "pulled" out of the unity accord with President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF signed with the late vice president Joshua Nkomo yesterday confirmed informal talks had been held.

"I can confirm that there have been informal talks but (there is) nothing concrete so far. There are no structures, people are just bouncing ideas towards a convention but really, nothing much more than that," the ex-Zipra intelligence supremo said.

Dabengwa's former cabinet colleague Simba Makoni was not available for comment but a source within his party confirmed that meetings have been going on.

"He (Makoni) attended the meeting you are talking of with two other people from our legal department but I am not sure of their identities," said the source.

Makoni was reportedly attending a conference along with Dabengwa, Biti and other civic society leaders where they were billed to speak. The said conference on democracy in Zimbabwe was convened by the Southern Africa Political and Economic Series (Sapes) in the capital.

Douglas Mwonzora, spokesperson of the MDC-T faction led by Tsvangirai seemed to dismiss the efforts altogether.

"We have not been invited and do not know what it (UDF) stands for or who is in it. Our leadership was not invited to the meeting you are referring to," said Mwonzora.

However, the MDC-T renewal team's spokesperson, Jacob Mafume, confirmed meetings had been going on.

"There have been meetings formally and informally, some in groups and there will be formal discussion to make sure the opposition coalesces around a common vision and agenda which is to liberate the people of Zimbabwe.

"I cannot, therefore, pin-point which meeting discussed what issues," said Mafume.

Biti who now fronts the renewal team after months of dithering, has reportedly been on a charm offensive, calling on democratic forces to find common ground.

The former Finance minister staged a bloodless coup two weeks ago in an attempt to depose veteran opposition strongman, Tsvangirai, who has been at the helm of the MDC-T for 15 years.

Biti convened a national council that resolved to suspend Tsvangirai, and  at the same time re-instating Mangoma who had been suspended.

The former prime minister rejected the suspension and instead responded by convening a national council meeting of his own that resolved to expel the MDC-T secretary general and his colleagues.