Possible split stops Biti from signing CODE

The Tendai Biti led People's Democratic Party (PDP) did not sign Coalition of Democrats (CODE) because the party leader feared possible rebellion by some of his most senior officials who had been promised positions in Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF).

ZimPF is led by Joice Mujuru.

Several parties -Democratic Assembly for Restoration of the Economy (DARE), MDC, Mavambo Kusile Dawn (MKD), Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe United for Democracy (ZUNDE) -Tuesday signed a coalition agreement in Harare, expected to see them field and support one candidate for President and other positions, from local government elections up to legislators.

PDP's Biti and ZAPU Secretary for Information and Publicity, Mjobisa Noko were at the signing ceremony and gave solidarity messages although they did not sign the agreement.

Sources allege that some of PDP's senior officials offered positions at ZimPF include Samuel Sipepa Nkomo -PDP vice president, Gorden Moyo -Secretary General and Lucia Matibenga – the party's national chairperson.

Sources claimed Biti wanted to sign the agreement but some of his counterparts resisted, leaving him option to say they will discuss CODE at their General Council meeting.

"Sipepa was called to People First and was offered a bigger position by virtue of him being Ndebele. To have people side with him on not signing the agreement, he, therefore bussed people to their last executive meeting. Delegates to the meeting were funding themselves, since he had money, Sipepa bussed in people from Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo and these were told what to say and do. Biti had few people on his side. The only option he has now is to bus people as well for the general council meeting," sources alleged.

PDP Vice-President Spokesperson, Edwin Ndlovu, squashed reports that Biti faced rebellion from some of his executive members and that they were offered positions at ZimPF.

"There is no rebellion what so ever but the national council is yet to meet simply that. People First is a rival political party therefore it's strange how they could promise our leaders positions. What positions in the first place? Therefore that is just hogwash," he said.
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Ndlovu insisted PDP was yet to meet at its national council and decide way forward concerning CODE.

"PDP did not sign the document because we are yet to present it to our national council but our president did attend the ceremony. We will sign after our national council. If our vice president and secretary general were in Harare they were also going to attend the event but no signatures," said the spokesperson.

Sources said some months ago, PDP secretary general would tell other parties to negotiate for a coalition with Mujuru otherwise she would sink the entire oppositional space like what MDC united did in 2000 when it entered the political space.

"Moyo said she would wipe other opposing parties like what happened to Zapu 2000 when MDC entered the scene," sources claimed.

Some oppositional politicians claimed to win in an election, a candidate should need to have part of Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe's supporters, which Mujuru did not have.

They said Mujuru, so far, has nothing, to show she can command greater support.

"What kind of party will she lead if it's made up of disgruntled people who have been let go from other parties but are now at the centre of her party," said one politician. Mujuru will only be relevant if she can divide the Zanu PF vote otherwise (MDC-T's) Tsvangirai can beat her anytime, anywhere. Where will she get the vote, does she have any significant number from MDC-T other than fired councillors? Who from the Zanu rank and file does she have? People First is failing to even sign Jabulani Sibanda and Temba Mliswa. You cannot say you will defeat Zanu PF if you don't have their foot soldiers, how will you expect to win."
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Last Saturday in Bulawayo while addressing his provincial Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy members, Temba Mliswa revealed that morning he had received calls from People First offering him a position in the party and also requested him to be an intermediary between the warring factions between Didymus Mutasa and Mujuru, which he refused.

Mliswa said Mujuru was a good leader but she and company were cowards as they should have led reform within Zanu PF not outside it.

Meanwhile, ZAPU's deputy secretary for publicity and marketing, Patrick Ndlovu, said the party did not pull out of CODE but would table the agreement at it congress to be held in two months' time where party members will have a chance to debate the proposal.

"Remember we never promised to sign but were mandated by our members to be part of the negotiations. Negotiations are done now we have to go back and have their mandate date to sign."

Sources close to the CODE proceedings said some party leaders do not trust MDC leader – Professor Welshman Ncube and MKD's Simba Makoni.

"The feeling is they want to hijack the project and make themselves seem relevant as their parties have collapsed. Some are also concerned about who is funding CODE and to the tune of how much as no one is upfront about the donor and their expectations," said the source.

Prof Ncube dismissed such notions and argued: "Who in CODE has a party stronger than us? How have we collapsed? Have we not had our obituary written every month since 2005?"

The MDC leader said CODE's objective was to have each political party coming under the agreement to be one.

"We have made the first step towards coming together as various political parties, those who don't want have the upper hand but we will continue negotiating until everyone comes on board," Prof Ncube noted.