‘Opposition can’t unseat Zanu-PF’

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
OPPOSITION parties are “toddlers” in politics and have no hope of unseating Zanu-PF, especially given the refusal by MDC-T’s Morgan Tsvangirai to work with other parties, MDC Renewal head of international relations Gorden Moyo has said.

Moyo told journalists at the Bulawayo Press Club on Tuesday that only a coalition of all opposition parties could produce a credible challenge to Zanu-PF dominance.

“There is no strong opposition that is going to challenge Zanu-PF. Currently we are too weak. We are not as strong as we want to be. That’s why Zanu-PF managed to do its reshuffling because there was no opposition to challenge it,” said Moyo.

He said for oppositional parties to challenge Zanu-PF they first have to form a grand coalition.

“As bits and pieces, we cannot successfully dislodge Zanu-PF. That’s why we are calling for coalition. We are still toddlers to challenge Zanu-PF,” he said.

Moyo castigated the MDC-T for wanting to be in control as it calls itself the “big tent” where other oppositional parties should come and bow.

“We are calling for all oppositional parties to come together, not under the big tent, but all tents. We want all ideas because they are important. We don’t have a big man mentality,” Moyo said.

Quizzed on whether they will accept ousted Zanu-PF members including Didymus Mutasa, Moyo said their arms were open for anyone ready to dislodge Zanu-PF from power.

“Every Zimbabwean is a stakeholder and we can work with anyone, even Mutasa. No one can be closed out if they share our principle and values,” said Moyo.

He said as a united MDC, they were redressing the mistakes they made in their initial formation — being the mouth piece of the Western countries as they were now focusing on pan Africanism ideologies.

Moyo also took a sway at Zanu-PF saying its factionalism was affecting the country’s economy and shying away investors.

Since losing to Zanu-PF in the July 31 elections, opposition parties have been romped into crisis which saw the MDC-T splitting with the other faction being led by Tsvangirai, while the other is led by then secretary general, Tendai Biti.

The united MDC was formed in 1999 and split in 2004 when the Welshman Ncube led grouping broke away over disagreements on whether or not to participate in the Senate elections.

The Ncube group elected Professor Arthur Mutambara as its leader while the other remained under Tsvangirai and became popularly known as MDC-T.

The MDC-T further split this year with secretary general Biti leading a group of senior party officials who went on to form the MDC Renewal.