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that can “absorb” it ahead of next year’s harmonised elections.
Insiders say they had no problems being “swallowed” by either Zanu-PF or MDC-T, but ruled out reuniting with Professor Welshman Ncube-led MDC due to “fundamental differences”.
It is understood that financial problems in the faction have forced some members to push for a coalition for the party’s senior officials to exist in the political field beyond the next harmonised polls.
Party insiders said the national council was expected to meet soon to deliberate on the proposal. Faction chairman Mr Joubert Mudzumwe yesterday said his party’s national council was yet to endorse the proposals.
He said the “idea” of a coalition was being suggested by some officials.
“We can’t rule out a coalition but at the moment it is too early to say we will go for a coalition because the elections are too far,” he said.
“We will wait for manifestos from other parties to see whose ideology we identify with. However, let me say we don’t have a problem having a coalition with Zanu-PF and MDC-T but we may have a problem with MDC because of fundamental differences.
“First, we will assess our chances on the ground so that when we negotiate a coalition we can do it from a position of strength. The issue of a coalition is being raised by our members, so the national council will meet to discuss that.”
Mr Mudzumwe said if the MDC faction led by Prof Ncube wanted to forge an alliance with his faction, they were supposed to acknowledge that they violated their party constitution by nullifying the outcome of the party’s congress held last year. He admitted his party was facing serious financial challenges.
“We are definitely having financial constraints because Arthur is outspoken against the Americans and the British who support the MDC-T and MDC-N, so obviously we are not getting funds.
“Our funders are members of our party who are very poor, so we are surviving on their contributions from vegetable sales.
“Arthur is a man of himself, he is not a puppet so foreign donors are not willing to fund his party,” Mr Mudzumwe said.
He said his party was not worried about winning the next elections.
“We are building for the future. We are not worried about losing the next elections. If we win some seats, it will just be a bonus,” Mr Mudzumwe said.
However, insiders said the national council was bound to endorse a coalition.
“As things stand, the party has not been doing any activities on the ground mainly because of lack of resources.
“Our chances at the next elections are very slim hence the best way for us to remain relevant is by finding a party that can take us.
“Our opponents are campaigning every week but we are not doing anything. It is important that we get absorbed by the party that we feel can give us a better share,” said a source. Another source added: “I am sure people can see that we don’t have the resources to use during the elections. We are not against being taken by other parties as long as they commit to give us a fair share.
“Almost everyone in the party knows that we cannot achieve anything if we go on our own. It is also clear that whichever party absorbs us will have to be lenient to at least give us some seats to contest. Prof Mutambara is very rational, he wouldn’t want the pride of contesting to take us out of the political arena. Besides, this will create an opportunity for our senior officials to at least grab some seats if we partner another party but not the one led by Welshman.” This is not the first time that DPM Mutambara’s party has gone for a coalition.
In the last general elections, the party supported Dr Simba Makoni of Mavambo Kusile Dawn in the presidential race.
Online Reporter