Grand Coalition Pipe Dream? Clemence Manyukwe 27 Mar 2014 A GRAND coalition against ZANU-PF built around the persona of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader Morgan Tsvangirai might fail to materialise as opposition forces remain worlds apart. Recently, Tsvangirai issued an appeal to all opposition leaders who include Welshman Ncube of the MDC and Dumiso Dabengwa and Simba Makoni of ZAPU and Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn respectively to join forces in preparation of dislodging ZANU-PF in the 2018 general elections. The former premier spoke of the need for all parties to gather under one “big tent” to ensure that ZANU- PF’s 33-year uninterrupted rule is put to an end. But analysts warned this that even if the grand coalition materialises, Tsvangirai’s “big tent” would prove difficult to manage, opening another front for further future divisions. Those who would be coming into the fold would expect to be recognised while those who have stuck with the MDC-T will also be expecting to be rewarded for their loyalty. Unless the process is managed meticulously, it could open the gates for further divisions across the opposition parties to be gathered in the “big tent”, more so for the main MDC-T, which is frantically trying to contain internal bickering. So far MDC99 leader Job Sikhala has responded positively to Tsvangirai’s invitation, while other parties have either dismissed him outright or adopted a cautious approach. Political analyst Ricky Mukonza revealed he took the “big tent” approach with a pinch of salt saying it was based on illusion. “I am skeptical about the ability of the various opposition leaders to co- exist. The main issue is their egos. There appears to be lack of genuine magnanimity on the part of the dominant opposition players and there is also lack of humility on those with less influence,” said Mukonza. “I think Sikhala was just desperate to be in the crowd, this could be a tacit admission that his political venture was a failure. Remember he tried to join the National Constitutional Assembly and in no time he made a U-turn.” There are also contradictions in the MDC-T leader’s appeal as the call has been made less than 10 months after he lost the July 2013 polls and comes at a time when his party is in turmoil. Critics say Tsvangirai’s actions would now seem like closing the stable door after the horse has already bolted as he squandered an opportunity to do so just before the last elections. Questions also abound over his sincerity as his overtures come when a purge is underway in Tsvangirai’s party against those questioning his leadership capabilities. Political analyst, Gideon Chitanga, said pleas to unite opposition forces against ZANU-PF are as old as multi- party politics in Zimbabwe, but the problem is that the former has not made a deliberate effort to embrace diversity. To make matters worse, some opposition parties believe in a form of representation that begins and ends with elections, which has worked perfectly for ZANU-PF. “It is therefore evident that efforts to inspire a grand coalition by way of a pro-reform pact led by political parties will fail just like in the previous attempts,” said Chitanga. While Tsvangirai is busy promoting his “big tent” approach, new political parties continue to be formed, giving the former premier’s concept a wide berth. One of the newly formed parties is the Democratic Assembly for Restoration and Empowerment (DARE) which was recently registered with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. DARE’s interim president, Gilbert Dzikiti, on Monday told the Financial Gazette that while Tsvangirai’s call is good, he should also pave way for new leaders. He said the former premier should make peace with those already in the MDC-T, who are part of the original plan but seem to be seeing things differently now. Outsiders who are being invited may also have a different approach to the MDC-T leader’s, which makes the whole idea problematic depending on how he responds to divergent views. “The mantra of a political party must not be merely a removal of a leader and our party believes that the issue of change must be generational and the generation of (President) Mugabe, (Vice President Joice) Mujuru and Tsvangirai or (Emmerson) Mnangagwa has passed on and it is time to have a leadership with innovation, creativity, one which is productive and pro-creative to pull the country forward while safeguarding the gains of independence,” said Dzikiti. “We are sons and daughters of the liberation war and respect the security forces while recognising that we are a party not formed out of a crisis but ideology and principle.” Summing up why opposition parties have failed thus far to dislodge President Mugabe’s party, Dzikiti said from independence in 1980 to the 1990s, all political players had close links with ZANU-PF, by design or default meaning their mentality was shaped along ZANU-PF’s ideology. This made dislodging ZANU-PF a mammoth task because the parties were a carbon copy of the original. The DARE interim leader is also of the view that, violence was used as a means of coercion, but when the opposition went to sleep, it was abandoned with ZANU-PF going on a practical drive to win support. [email protected]
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 18:20:55 +0000
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