NCA is lying, Tsvangirai is not a coward - Social commentators

Social commentators have dismissed claims by the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) party that MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is a coward by boycotting elections saying the former labour movemnet leader has maintained his stance against Zanu PF government up to date.

Watson Watungwa its a bit trick here.

"But i feel going for elections will,has never and will never be of any good to Zimbabwe as long as Zanu PF is in charge of the elections they are participating,its like a referee is taken from from the other team players why not award penults to his side ,election in Zimbabwe is waste of time," he said.

His remarks were supported by Takemore Majabule who said instead, NCA should focus more on forming and strategising for the next election than talking about another party that has genuine issues.

Tallent Chingovo said It's just so stupid for one Mickey Mouse political organization, led by nonentities to call Tsvangirai a "coward"

Watson Watungwa added saying, "I donot agree that Tsvangirai is a coward unless if he changed from his earlier stance when the movement started but he has seen it all elections do not work,in all the elections he took part he was always rigged even when he won in 2008 he was denied the chance to rule,the 2013 elections were just a farce.

"Noone can call that elections unless he is talking to a few who benefit from such ,even Zanu PF was shocked to have won like that ,they did not expect such a big win ,they overdid the rigging."

NCA party had hit out at former ally Tsvangirai, describing the MDC-T leader as a "coward" and "selfish" politician.

Tsvangirai, the NCA charged, is campaigning for President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF party by advising his supporters to spoil ballot papers in the June 10 by-elections.

The former premier triggered the votes by recalling rebel legislators who had joined the splinter MDC Renewal Team.

However, Tsvangirai has refused to contest by-elections to fill the vacant constituencies and has staged rallies urging Zimbabweans to either boycott the votes or spoil ballot papers.

Participating in the by-elections would only legitimise flawed polls, Tsvangirai argues.

But Madock Chivasa, the NCA party spokesperson, told NewZimbabwe.com in an interview that Tsvangirai was effectively campaigning for Zanu PF.

"If people listen to Tsvangirai and do not go and vote it means Zanu PF will win resoundingly and we see this as alliance between MDC-T and Zanu PF," said Chivasa.

"If they are not participating it's their democratic right but there are also opposition parties which are participating which, in the past elections, have been openly campaigning for the MDC."

The NCA spokesman said Tsvangirai should remember that people were murdered and persecuted while campaigning for him.

"There is nothing wrong about keeping quite if you do not wish to partake in an election than to tell people that they should spoil the ballot," said Chivasa.

"This to us shows selfishness because if you remember us when we were still a civil society movement, one of the accusations Zanu PF always leveled against us was our clear patronage to the MDC-T whenever the country was having elections.

"In 2008 I failed to vote in Bikita after I was arrested by the police and detained for six days and was released after the elections on allegations that I was campaigning for MDC when I had gone there to cast my vote."

However, Obert Gutu the MDC-T spokesperson defended Tsvangirai saying his leader was expressing anger at Zanu PF's reluctance to reform electoral laws when he said people should boycott the by-elections.

"Zanu PF has rigged these by-elections even before they have been held," said Gutu.

What President Morgan Tsvangirai was saying is that people should never legitimise an electoral farce by Zanu PF by not going to vote in any apparently already rigged election, and by so doing the people will be registering their protest."

Gutu said his party remained guided by democratic principles adding that "we will never betray" the people of Zimbabwe who have been with "us" for the past fifteen years.

"No political party besides Zanu PF can ever dream of winning the already rigged by-elections. Let Zanu PF celebrate their hollow and meaningless victory.

"The MDC is not at all selfish. After all, we are the largest and most popular political party in Zimbabwe," he said.

The NCA has participated in the Mount Darwin South, Chirumanzu-Zibagwe and Wedza by-elections where the party got a handful of votes.

Even so, Chivasa said "we are going to grab" all the seats left vacant by the recalled MDC Renewal legislators.

Tsvangirai and the other rival MDC formations are boycotting the by-elections and any future votes demanding that the Zanu PF government implements reforms to help make the contests fairer.