Boom!!! MDC rebels play their last card Have just finished reading the statement released by three men, reported to be representing what they are calling the MDC Team, otherwise generally being the camp of rebels within the MDC, who have been pushing the renewal agenda. Jacob Mafume (interim spokesman), Promise Mkwananzi and Last Maengahama were present and released a statement. I find the move to be very decisive an unlocking a sort of logjam or stalemate that has been existing lately over the MDC leadership saga. And, by this move the trio have played will likely turn out to be their last card. Here is why l say so: 1) They have effectively bowed to pressure to eventually admit that they have failed, or lack the capacity to either take over the leadership from Morgan Tsvangirai or split away. These two objectives, realistically have been their hope and targets from the beginning. Mafumes statement reads, Problems in the MDC are irreconcilable. We havent reached that stage where we can say we are splitting but our position is that the differences cannot be resolved. In other words, the message from the trio is that they have lost the political battle, which they started doing from the beginning, in my view. 2) They then dominate the statement with the position that the MDC has lost track under Tsvangirais leadership, and brandishing their new battle as being about taking it back on course, using the common terms of constitutionalism, values, principles and so forth. That has two effects: of reinforcing the admission that the small group has lost the fight it started and also signifying it has plunged lower but into another untenable quagmire. I say so because the lofty and grandiose task they purport to be out to accomplish is surely a non-starter, given that, as they openly demonstrate, they are clearly a very small and insignificant part of the MDC. Undoubtedly, the fact that only three of them could show up to play their last card is virtually self-defeating, although, of course, not too surprising to me because that is what they have been from the beginning - a very tiny spot too loud on noise but clearly short on numbers and coherent mission. Once again, Tendai Biti couldnt show up at the crucial moment and l understand why. I suppose Mangoma was tied up with other things but should have attended, albeit without making any significant difference. The rest of the claimed or alleged heavyweights of this camp wouldnt show up, and like l have been saying, l believe, are not prepared to commit suicide through this farce. In conclusion, and in the context of my argument that the small camp has played its last card, the MDC leadership shall easily get the message that the only straw the rebels are trying to clutch it remains the plan to sustain the picture of lack of unity, peace and order in the party. In other words, the only worthy strategy for the rebels is playing to the gallery and grandstanding over the claim of irreconcilable differences and by extension crisis in the party. The bonus for Tsvangirai and the party leadership is that the rebels are self-evidently not even having their own backing. In other words, a storm in a tea cup. Therefore, this becomes a piece of cake for Tsvangirai and on that, l anticipate his leadership to just ignore the ranting and raving of Mafume and company and let them sink into oblivion. My understanding and knowledge of the dynamics within the MDC and size of power structures, leaves me without doubt that the Mangoma train has played its last card and shall only be left with choosing how it hangs itself - either eventually walking away to form a little toy of a party or gradually fizzling into oblivion as processes unfold, including party congress.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 12:35:23 +0000
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