'Tsvangirai is like Arsene Wenger,' says Sikhala

Morgan Tsvangirai's rule at the helm of the MDC has been compared to the reign of Arsene Wenger, the manger for English football club Arsenal, who went on a-nine-year trophy-less stint until last Saturday's FA Cup win over Hull City.

The comparison was made by Job 'Wiwa' Sikhala at a rally in Glen View South in Harare last weekend.

"There were nine years of pain and suffering for Arsenal fans and in the MDC there are people who thought that when this struggle started, it was going to be won on the ninth minute not knowing that it would go to extra time," Job Sikhala said.

In apparent reference to members who walked out of the MDC camp, Sikhala said Arsenal lost some of its best players "who had given up any hope of winning such as Thiery Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb and Alex Song."

"But on Saturday, I saw Wenger being hoisted by his players in celebration after the Cup victory and now that we are going into the extra time with our struggle, you shall see Tsvangirai being raised in jubilation having brought power to the MDC," Sikhala said.

Tapiwa Mashakada, the newly appointed party secretary-general who stood in for Tsvangirai at the rally, took a dig at his predecessor Tendai Biti together with ex-deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma for failing the party as its chief negotiators.

"We thought we had sent people to negotiate on our behalf while in actual fact they negotiated to have Tsvangirai out of power," Mashakada said.

Meanwhile, the MDC will hold a rally on Sunday at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield to mark Africa Day.