Source: Opposition rattled by Zanu PF’s resurgence – DailyNews Live
Jeffrey Muvundusi 20 December 2017
BULAWAYO – The MDC Alliance is calling for all opposition parties in
Zimbabwe to bury their differences in order to fight Zanu PF as a single
force, noting that the military’s intervention in the ruling party’s
internal affairs has obliterated the divisions that had greatly
contributed to the governing party’s misfortunes.
Addressing a rally during the executive launch of the MDC Alliance at
Macdonald Hall in Bulawayo over the weekend, Welshman Ncube of the
Alliance said there was no need for the opposition to give President
Emmerson Mnangagwa a chance to resuscitate the economy as he was the
architect of what he called the “2008 pre-emptive coup.”
Ncube was referring to the period when the ruling party under former
president Robert Mugabe kept Zimbabweans in suspense with a month long
wait before they released the election results.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) described the delay as meticulous
verification.
Zec, which is packed with loyalists of the ruling party, released figures
that showed opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai had won the election
but without an outright majority and therefore a run-off was ordered.
However, Tsvangirai pulled out of the race citing violence on his
supporters which was allegedly perpetrated by the army.
In December 2004, while addressing service chiefs and the new leadership
of the war veterans association at the Zanu PF headquarters, Mugabe made a
telling “Freudian slip” of the tongue when he said Tsvangirai had garnered
73 percent of the vote.
“Mugabe is gone. For years and years, we used to say Mugabe must go and he
is gone finally,” Ncube said.
“But we had to get the help in our fight through those who were close to
him who are the ones who were behind a pre-emptive coup in 2008 when
Mugabe lost elections.
“So this is not the first time they have done a coup. Their first coup
after independence was in 2008 when Morgan Tsvangirai beat Mugabe all
systems out.
“So people should not tell us today to give Mnangagwa and his team a
chance,” he said.
He said it was time for the opposition and people of Zimbabwe to unite and
end the Zanu PF rule come 2018.
This, he said, was because after Operation Restore Legacy which eliminated
the Generation 40 (G40) cabal in Zanu PF, the ruling party had emerged
somewhat united.
“Zanu PF was going to these coming elections a divided lot with G40 on the
other side and Team Lacoste on the other; they were fighting day and
night. What has happened now is through (Constantino) Chiwenga they have
fired G40 and got united as team Lacoste,” he said.
“So as they are going for elections they are regrouping. We are going to
face a united Zanu PF and behind it will be the army. So, we as opposition
we have to realise that and be united,” Ncube urged the gathering.
The MDC Alliance spokesperson taunted Zanu PF that they were panicking at
the resurgence of the opposition party who they thought had been buried
since Mnangagwa’s takeover.
“For those who read newspapers you might have come across such statements
indicating that the MDC has destroyed itself by going to America to ask
for sanctions,” he said.
“If you hear people in Zanu PF complaining about what we will have done
just know that thing is good.”
“We are not going to be told by Zanu PF what should be our strategy. We
are not going to be told by Zanu PF who our friends should be. The MDC
Alliance programme is decided by MDC Alliance. In politics they say if you
see your opponent silent then it means whatever you are doing is
worthless. Your opponent should feel the heat.”
Ncube said as the MDC Alliance they were not going to stop telling the
world the truth until a free and fair election was held in the country.
He said given proper electoral reforms there was no way Zanu PF can win a
free and fair election.
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