News / National
What has gone wrong in MDC-T heaven?
03 Jun 2014 at 16:22hrs | Views
It would seem that losing the July 2013 general elections did much harm to the once- formidable opposition MDC-T in Zimbabwe, now split between secretary general Tendai Biti and its leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
University of Zimbabwe head of political science Dr Charity Manyeruke explained: "The infighting in MDC-T has come about mainly because the party lacks an ideology. That means they do not have a good foundation and a solid identity.
Then there is the problem of a leadership crisis. There is no leadership in the party. The structures are fragile and the guardianship of the party is selfish. The camps are not being open-minded but defensive which is not helping the party. Without measures to contain this confusion the patty will keep disintegrating till it is irrelevant."
Midlands State University lecturer Christopher Gwaridzo agrees.
He said: "The basic problem assailing the MDC-T is lack of an ideology. It was formed as a hotchpotch of different individuals without a common basis except the desire to unseat Mugabe.
"There were disgruntled commercial farmers, lawyers, failed individuals and willing puppets all clamouring for Mugabe to go. Actually, there was confusion from the beginning, stirring peanut butter in okra if we may use the metaphor. The party has been consistently full of contradictions and if you consider the kind of splits that they have had for a party formed 14 years ago you can tell that the centre cannot hold. There is no clarity and sense of purpose as to their mission. The current circus is a fight for the control of donor resources and power.
On the future of opposition politics in Zimbabwe Dr Manyeruke says: "with or without the MDC, I think there is still a possibility for a credible and vibrant opposition movement. All that is needed is to come up with brilliant ideas and strategies and the time to mobilise the people.
"At the moment, we do not have an opposition that is defined by domestic interests. They are sponsored by developed countries who have different interests to pursue. The parties themselves are powerless. Donor funding is directed at specific projects. The agenda is also determined from outside the country. Selection of candidates is also open to external manipulation.
University of Zimbabwe head of political science Dr Charity Manyeruke explained: "The infighting in MDC-T has come about mainly because the party lacks an ideology. That means they do not have a good foundation and a solid identity.
Then there is the problem of a leadership crisis. There is no leadership in the party. The structures are fragile and the guardianship of the party is selfish. The camps are not being open-minded but defensive which is not helping the party. Without measures to contain this confusion the patty will keep disintegrating till it is irrelevant."
Midlands State University lecturer Christopher Gwaridzo agrees.
"There were disgruntled commercial farmers, lawyers, failed individuals and willing puppets all clamouring for Mugabe to go. Actually, there was confusion from the beginning, stirring peanut butter in okra if we may use the metaphor. The party has been consistently full of contradictions and if you consider the kind of splits that they have had for a party formed 14 years ago you can tell that the centre cannot hold. There is no clarity and sense of purpose as to their mission. The current circus is a fight for the control of donor resources and power.
On the future of opposition politics in Zimbabwe Dr Manyeruke says: "with or without the MDC, I think there is still a possibility for a credible and vibrant opposition movement. All that is needed is to come up with brilliant ideas and strategies and the time to mobilise the people.
"At the moment, we do not have an opposition that is defined by domestic interests. They are sponsored by developed countries who have different interests to pursue. The parties themselves are powerless. Donor funding is directed at specific projects. The agenda is also determined from outside the country. Selection of candidates is also open to external manipulation.
Source - new african
