via Biti, Ncube, Makoni, Zapu close to deal 07 October 2014
AFTER months of speculation on a possible merger, Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube’s MDC breakaway factions are close to sealing terms with two other Zanu PF splinter groups led by Simba Makoni and Dumiso Dabengwa.
The four-party alliance, which would be managed under the so-called Coalition of Democrats Agreement (Code), is set to rival the mainstream MDC-T led by Morgan Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai has been described as a pseudo democrat by his erstwhile comrades, who broke ranks with the embattled former premier over his controversial leadership style.
A senior official with one of the parties told NewZimbabwe.com Tuesday that signatures are yet to be put to paper with the respective groups scheduling meetings this week to discuss the terms of the deal.
“The deal is yet to be signed. We understand the MDC Renewal Team national executive will discuss the proposal at a meeting scheduled for Thursday while Welshman Ncube’s MDC national executive is scheduled to meet on Saturday,” said the official who asked not to be named.
In a recent briefing to African diplomats accredited to Harare MDC Renewal Team international relations chairperson Gorden Moyo said progress had been made in forming a grand coalition with other opposition groups in the country.
“We are also in consultation with various political formations in the country as we want to build a grand coalition and reunite with other comrades who were part of us before. We are not a party of the past but we look to the past in order to learn. Organisations need leadership renewal, otherwise they will die,” said Moyo.
Meanwhile, according to the proposed agreement which was released this week, Code would have its own unique logo that would be linked to those of member parties.
MDC-T Renewal, MDC, Mavambo/Dawn/Kusile and Zapu agreed to “establish a united, democratic, socially just and green Zimbabwe in which all are free, equal, and prosperous and enjoy happy and fulfilling lives.
“The Coalition of Democrats shall be a body corporate capable of suing and being sued and acquiring and disposing of property in its own right.
“For the purposes of participating in elections and sponsoring candidates or doing any other programmes, Code shall have its own distinct symbols and logos separate from those of the parties or organisations that are its members.”
The parties also propose to set up a governing council which would “have the right and obligation of accepting and refusing the membership application of any political party, organisation, body or person who is not a founder member”.
Code’s governing council, according to the accord, would comprise two officials each from the respective parties or any member organisation. The council will be charged with running CODE’s day-to-day affairs.
It would also be responsible with designing and implementing all the programmes of the coalition as well as designing and implementing any electoral and campaign strategy.
The opposition groups also propose to allow the governing council to come up with “a fair and just framework for candidate selection and candidate nomination in the fulfilment of the principle of fielding one candidate for each elective office in every election”.
It would also elect and define a schedule for a rotating chairman among the participating parties who will preside over the affairs of the group on a two-month cycle.
Code would also establish steering committees in the fields of finance and administration, organising and advocacy, international relations, media, information and publicity, election, policy research and publications, women, and that for the youth.
The formation of the grand coalition is the first attempt in Zimbabwe’s post-independence democracy to emerge out of the opposition.
Past attempts aimed at bringing Tsvangirai and his former allies together fell through following disagreements on how to deploy seats to be contested by each party.
COMMENTS
what if Tsvancry wants to join Code?
With any luck if this development is successful there can be a bit of order within opposition circles. If these guys are called Code then the sensible thing would be for the MDC T to remove the T from the party name and begin to reinvent that Party . Code on the other hand have to market themselves by coming out straight and identifying their leadership structures. Will they do that? Will others who were running their own shows be able to except it if they are not leading from the front? What ever happens if these new players come in and make whatever kind of an impact the Zimbabwean Political scenery needs party’s to keep each other honest. Too long has Zanu ruled without any serious challenge. The challenge for Code and MDC T is leading the people from the front and not from their offices. We need to know what their philosophies and policies are or if they’ve already said we need to be reminded.
@Tozvirevakupiko
Its impossible. There is no way a “Mugabe in another name” can ever want to join CODE.
What about his degrees in violence? Gukurahundi? Mandevere; Regionalist; Village politician; My-word-is-final tendencies; I am the MDC?
What will happen to all that?
With such a track record, he will certainly feel like a fish out of water in CODE; a square peg in a round hole. I mean, its part of his DNA wabona!!
Who said u are the true democrats. Since when has Makaoni and Dabengwa who were in zanu pf for donkey years qualified to become true democrats. Even Biti and Ncube, who qualifies them to be true democrats, how do u judge that this one is a true democrat. Others would rather call Biti and Ncube power hungry lunatics
WHY NOT JUST FORM ONE PARTY INSTEAD OF THESE JOINED PIECES. IS THIS NOT A RECIPE FOR FUTURE DISUNITY. WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SOLID.SOMETHING THAT GIVES A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE AND PROPER DIRECTION.
Remember all these guys entertain the idea of finally taking over and become president and this they only seeing it as a stepping stone. The aim is not genuinely fight Mugabe but to pull the rag from underneath MT…note the rotating leadership, no one is prepared to submit to the other. Honestly what kind of a country will having rotating presidency.
And if we go for the elections who will stand as the presidential candidate. Can they market him in a month. This is another Zim Political circus in my opinion. Worse than internet Zunde.
Tsuro
Forget about your Tsvangirayi. He is past his sell by date!!
IN AFRICA IT IS ALLWAYS ME FIRST
zim reeper
You mean, as in Tsvangirayi and Mugabe? You are very right, mfanekhaya!
C.Moyo
They have just signed an M.O.U. I hope you understand what an MOU is?
At least its a start. We need to bring in more formations. A real grand coalition. ZANU is falling to pieces.
C .MOYO These Guys are just not compatible. They need a clean break from each other. There is just too much back stabbing and selling each other out. It is better they go their own separate way. We should pray that the Zimbabwe scenario is such in 2018 that no single Party gains a clear Majority which is the recipe for a dictatorship. We need to get into the mode where we look at the quality of a candidate and what he can do for his constituents as a whole and the country a large rather than what party he stands for. We need men and women whom though from different Partys can sit down in Parliament and solve the problems bedevilling the country. Most of all between now and the next election we need them to tell us what they can do for us and how they can do for us. There are too many people in the opposition Partys that were seeking total control and total power. They need to start convincing us what the can do to create employment and improve the life of Zimbabweans in General. Too much has been said and done for any sort of a reconciliation. Three or four Political choices are never a bad thing. I think Zimbabwe would fair quite well with a coalition if it is people picked by their constituencies. The Zanu pf model of MP’s is such that the are instructed how to vote in Parliament so if the top people in their party go off script they have no choice but to toe the line thus breaking promises to the constituents. This renders them totally useless and they become spectators in Parliament. The Opposition MP’s go to Parliament to flex their muscle by showing that they are not scared to challenge. This state of things means that no meaningful legislation can come from them. The President then makes his laws and tells them to vote the laws in. This has to stop. After all though policies may differ the aim should be to improve the lifestyle of your people. That being the case there should never be a reason for them to differ on bread and butter issues. The only problem now is that they look after their own Bread and Butter. Vote them out.
An election that produces no clear majority party is a disaster – no governance and development takes place. You should know that by now; after the GPA disaster. Why do you think the ZISCO deal failed under the GNU; and the revival of industries in Bulawayo and elsewhere? Spending time undermining each other, is not governance. People want jobs!
I don’t think you get my meaning. By a clear majority I meant 2/3 Majority where a party can do as they please. I think you know what I mean but sometimes argue for the sake of it. The reason why Bulawayo is as it is is because one Particular party had total control of Parliament and because their leader simply hated the region he ignored it. If MDC T had won a 2/3 majority and Zanu gave up power they might have also become a dictatorship passes legislation to suit their whims under the pretex that we have the mandate from the people thus we don’t have to consult. The balance is such in other democracies that the opposition keeps the those that rule honest because the will only pass legislation that benefit the people.
I support a set up that will help rekindle the opposition but if what I saw in Bulawayo at the large city hall when Renewal held their meeting is anything to go by then the challenge is greater than what we know. Bulawayo might very easily go to Zanupf because the opposition has been split right in the middle giving the looters an easy task. MDC-T is no longer the same in that city. Will Zapu shrug off their Zanupf deployed elements masquerading as veterans of the struggle against colonialism while still hoping to impress their CIO handlers? Will Welshman’s obsession against Tswangirai give way to the practical redefining of the real enemy of the Zimbabwean population that is Zanuism, looters, thieves and murderers? Will Simba Makoni stand firm and refuse the Zanupf whispers “Iwe Simba wavakushanda naDabengwa muNdevere uchida kuti uraya nhai?” Will these guys rise and even sacrifice their wealth and say come what it takes Zimbabweans need freedom and democracy at any cost? Or they will just be there so that may be they will go to Parliament also in a Zanupf dominated House then enjoy trips and luxuries under the protection of Zanupf while pushing their failures off to someone else like Priscilla Musihairambwi? The idea is bright but it needs more than agreements and signatories. It might prolong the struggle but sadly or truly at the moment the people of this country have no option but to try and regroup under a new approach.
Bazur Wa Ku Muzi with all due respect, the people of this region will never ever vote for Zanu. Too much happened. The spirits of the missing and the shallow graves at Mpindo siding and other locations scream for Justice. We would rather starve. But then are we not doing it already? The true dislike for Zanu is displayed by the Straight Shooters of this world. Sorry brother, all my respect.
It is a given fact that ndebeles since 1980 have never voted for zanu. That is an undisputed fact. The problem is with our brothers and sisters from mashonaland. To them it is better to be ruled by another shona than a ndebele person. The only way is to devide the country. Let them choose whom they want and let ndebeles determine their own destiny.
And who will lead code ? I suspect it will be zpf/CIO !!!!!!!! Anyway , I’ve been searching the skies but am failing to see any flying pigs !! Pamberi mob justice. Pasi chiyangwa/kaukonde. Viva street revolts.
The new leader of zim will emerge from the street revolts. A true martyr. Not a self important wishy washy armchair academic. Y.o.z.a. arise ( youth of Zimbabwe ) mark my wise prediction you failures
IF U CALL YOURSELVES TRU DEMOCRATS U WILL ENGANGE TSVANGSON.
THIS IS JUST A SILLY GAME, HAMUNA NYAYA
Engaging a gukurahundi “ZANU PF OUTFIT” in another name, is a waste of time. They have to be opposed all the way – that’s democracy!!
true t
hat sonofngwazi, I see this as another bunch of self- centered politicians who think they can run the show. true democrats while engage mdc t, period.
farook
You cant engage ä gukurahundi “ZANU PF OUTFIT” in another name. It has to be opposed all the way!!
All these big names amount to nothing! They should just try to fight for one candidate to be a least a councillor because anything else is out of reach!
Okunje angikaze ngibone!izinto zamashona shuwa…
The coalition of the three or four insignificant parties is notghing. History has it that the only party that ZANU PF fears is MDC T. People may say all such names and say all such plans, they are just stoogies of ZANU PF and they know it. All put together they are there to spoil the easy sailing to power of the only tested and proved opposition. With these mergers ZANU PF is not moved, but let MDC T came into the merger, ZANU PF will sponsor another split as they did with all these guys, Makoni, Dabengwa, Ncube and lastly Biti. Come election time, they will all be in tatters. Any meaningful opposition comes from trues labour back opposition MDC lead by Tsvangirai, ask Jonathan Moyo, he made that prediction way back in 1990s.
bruce Koffee What I personally would like to happen is for there to be 1 MDC 1 ZANU PF 1 CODE and 1 Zunde. Not all the chaos that has happened over the years with MDC T, MDC99, MDCM. All this does is cause mayhem and confusion. If they group under the name Code that should be the end of the confusion. Whatever anybody’s intentions are will be revealed by their Manifesto. That is why if this happened I would favour the T from MDC to be dropped.
There is no confusion here. Your problem in Zimbabwe is simply that you are so obsessed about who the leader is or will be. Principles and policies count for nothing in Zim politics. You are keen to know beforehand whether the leader is Ndebele or Shona. That’s typical Zimbabwe for you. When will that gukurahundi country grow up and join other civilised nations of today?
I think that the GNU was not a coalition but a forced marriage between two very different Partys. What you refer to was a forced coalition of all players which was stupid in any case. The true coalition was supposed to between the 2 MDC’s who had already agreed a strategy. Zanu was supposed to be the opposition. Welshman, although with a few seats would have made a difference and would have been in the position of power to do deals for his region. That is he would have made sure that before signing anything from MDC T into legislation he would require them to reciprocate and legislate some of his Party’s policies. Zanu would be in opposition and basically try to challenge anything that is contrary to their policies. This would of happened if Mugabe would of admitted defeat and handed over power. In a sensible coalition it is not possible for the two major parties to to form a coalition.A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate, reducing the dominance of any one party within that coalition. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament.
Its their right to organise in the manner they see fit. The constitution bestows on them, including YOU, that right. Your opinions about them are irrelevant!
Phunyukabemphethe on this forum what you find irrelevant will be relevant to others. You are not an examiner marking tests here. Everybody has their opinions and we read and make up our own minds accordingly. My opinions about them are very relevant.
No, you don’t understand. I am talking about the Supreme law of the land, in any civilised nation – the constitution. If the constitution allows every citizen to organise themselves in a manner they see fit; it does not matter what me or you think about them – they will still go ahead and organise, since there is nothing we can do about that. They have broken no law. Its clear that a lot of MDC-T people have got a problem with any one lese trying to play in the opposition space in Zim other than themselves. Its a space they have arrogated to themselves alone – as if they are some sort of authority, irrespective of what the country’s constitution says. It is not the MDC-T and its supporters to tell whoever whether they will succeed or not in their new political endeavours. Its actually none of their business. MDC-T needs to grow up!
Phunyukabemphethe If you put it that way then of course I have to listen. What I have to see is what each group does and which way they go. As I have always said on the day of the election I will go the way I think is best at that time. Would it be crazy to think that there are people like me that do not buy party cards? No we are there. I have not and will never vote for a Zanu candidate. The reason is because I believe that they legislate under instruction from their leader. I and some like me will look at what the other party’s have to offer and the quality of the candidates. For instance if MDC T put Chinotimba as their candidate I would not vote for him because I consider him incompetent. Others might.That is their choice. I will not try to plead with people that cannot work together to do so. Here on this forum I listen and learn. If we were to do a survey on this forum it might suggest the mood of the people. Some will argue it suggest the mood of the Diaspora. On the ground in Zimbabwe however the mood is different. We wait and see in the next few weeks. Somehow I have a feeling that patterns will begin to emerge. With in Zanu they are already apparent.
Agreed. But we must not talk as if other fellow citizens have no right to participate in the politics of their country, apart from Tswangirayi and Mugabe. Even if patterns begin to emerge as you say, they still have a right to exist because the Constitution allows them, as much as it allows MDC-T and gukurahundi ZANU PF. No race, tribe or religious group should be excluded, no matter how we might feel about each other. The Ruling party or opposition party spaces belong to no one. Once we understand that, we are certainly on the road to healing of our nation!!
Doc this is the beginning of a great confusion. Learned people can not think Zimbabweans will take them serious if they can not come up with a mere name. Rotation is a sign that all of them are power hungry no one wants to be a follower. It takes a lot to build a political movement. What can a person build in two months. This is a plan by Biti and his group to seek relevance. Renewal team is still an infant if not an embryo, it is not yet a political movement but its leading political parties. SHAME!!!
Chidembochanhuhwa You are correct. If they do rotation they will be just as useless as SADEC. Then again it is better we find out now rather than in 2018. A lot of Politicians think that Zimbabweans are stupid. Big Mistake.
But why are you in such a hurry? Let the CODE idea bed down and in time they will reach consensus on the way forward!
I don’t think anybody is in a hurry. We respond to situations as they unfold an comment accordingly. A lot is unfolding at the moment and we await to see how the cookie crumbles. In the mean time we sharpen our pens in the hope that sanity will finally prevail when we have to put the x.
Chide
I don’t think these CODE guys are forcing anyone, you in particular to follow them. I am sure you are free to stick it out with you Tswangirayi or is it Mugabe (I never know the difference really, since they are both the same)!!
On paper its a good move for Zimbabwe in general, would rather have three strong parties than several weak splinter parties.
However, the problem is that whilst this coalition seems to have the numbers in leadership they don’t seem to have the numbers on the ground. Zapu, Ncube’s MDC and Mavambo don’t appear to have much supporters and so in terms of supporters they wont contribute much.
The unknown quantity here is the MDC renewal, I don’t know if anyone knows how much support this group has.
It looks like its a top-heavy setup and I will be watching with much interest to see who will lead this coalition. Rotating of chairmen doesn’t make sense because one of them has to stand as presidential candidate and that’s where the coalition will be tested. Will they be able to suppress their egos? Will see.
This is work in progress mfanekhaya. Stop obsessing about leadership; the usual Zimbabwean disease. Just cool it.
Why fight Tsvangirai, he is not in power. Surely these guys are insane.Why try to brainwash the poor majority Zimbabweans.Thats really really crazy what these code guys are doing. You are uniting to challenge Tsvangirai not mugabe? What a big shame. God forgive them they don’t know what they are doing.I pray to God that if these guys unite to cause the sufferings of the God’s people, God let your will be done(let them be cursed)
Tswangirayi is a legitimate political opponent, just as Mugabe is – so there is nothing wrong with “fighting” him. He doesn’t have to be in power to be opposed (what you call FIGHTING). As long as he is in competition for power, its a free for all. That’s the name of the game of politics
Then you lose the plot. you seem ignorant of what MT has done to deserve even Dabengwa fight him. MT is in competition for what. We are not talking about competition but extricate Zimbabwe from the clutches of A DICTATOR. MT has erred along the way, raise up a finger if you have not erred in your life, but does that require crucification and exonerate the despot for 34 years. You have turned naïve and oblivious to fundamental problems Zim faces now and in the past. I cannot chronicle what we all know but Zimbabwe is the 47th poorest country in Africa of 54 countries not out MT but clear stooge held on by gun on throat to allow black bourgeoisie to loot home what generations should survive on. For your info all those in competition with MT will incorporate Mnangagwa, Grace, Gono, Jonathan Moyo hence the plan to use Biti to garner some grassroots support which belongs to the original MDC. That is why Jonathan Moyo cannot be removed that is his job under the colonial master Mnangagwa who is frothing on the mouth to protect his loot and get shares in upcoming Mozambican mineral resources…….Dabengwa is innocent he cannot see it but all the other guys needed Wwananchi (Biti) but still he miscalculated by being so vociferous and vehement against MT soon after being shown the side where money is during the Gono-Kereke case. The failure to win elections is not painful to MT alone but to even an old lady and men sitted in Muzarabani, Nyamandlovu, Mabolokohlo, Tendawasvika. By fighting the symbol of resistance you fight the people that had hope in MDC so the attack is not on MT, but MDC. These are lawyers who cannot who will one day seek MT hand into the CODE. Watch this space.
I figure this coalition is the best in terms of leadership that espouses genuine national unity in diversity. Not the gukurahundi tribalists in the form of Tsvangirayi and his ancestor Mugabe, who are bent on assimilation in the name of national unity.
Whilst I believe in Makoni’s desire for the best for our nation, I am only worried about is lack of clarity on the Devolution question. He does seem to share some of ZANU PF’s centralist tendencies. He never pronounces himself with clarity on controversial and topical issues in Zimbabwe, such as gukurahundi, election violence and killings and Murambatswina. But I believe he can be made to come around!
If what has happened so far is anything to go by,the coalition plan is not going to yield anything in terms of the much needed numbers. Not only that, their compatibility and ideological difference will not work in their favor either. Yes it is good for them to seek relevance politically but with the political terrain in its shape and form, these guys have a herculean task ahead of them.If they are going to get any sympathizers,they will get them mainly from the Tsvangirai’s MDC,but then what they spent saying about Tsvangirai other than their party policies will never make them gain more voters so to say. Anyway, time will tell.
I a
Phunyuka I totally agree and I urge those who want to see change for freedom and democracy in out life time to support the coalition. I dont think the coalition deliberately left anyone out. Those who beat up fellow party members in a meeting of their own party and a leader who causes confusion amongst his own supporters by rigging his own elections will only cause more confusion in a coalition. When I warned that the opposition has to work hard against Zanupf especially in Bulawayo madoda ngiqinisile. Izanupf came second to MDC-T last time. Sesidabule futhi kumele silande bantu abangavotanga madoda bavotele icoalition and many abavotela omunye umuntu basivotele. You know imali ezahazwa yiZanu ngomdudla oObhethi oJowanthane labo bonke abahuquluzi lamahulukuqu. Bakwethu nanzelelani ukuthi ubuNdebele phose abusasebenzi abantu badla imali bantshontsha baphiwa amapulazi bonke labo bavotela iZanu noma bengamaNdebele. Lematshetshi uzwa abafundisi sebekhuluma ngoyise uMgabe
If the coalition is really erious, then that’s the test of time.The people in the coalition are all not to be trusted.Biti, Dabengwa, Makoni and Ncube, no one has a clean record and their ambivalent qualities make them highly suspicious.MDC chipanera chesimbi.Let us not judge.We are going to witness who the boss is.People trust Morgan, yes he fails at times.Trusting a coalition of ZANU praise singers will not work.MDC will stand on its own and its supporters are rearing to go.To the renewal, good riddance.At least you are not going to pollute our campaigns.You are going to stand as Code, maybe code of stealing, I don’t know.The masses know, their pencils know, their emotions will never be swayed by dew in the morning.We are already there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morgan can not be trusted either. His only advantage is his union background which popularised him in the late 1980s; which is what the founders of the original MDC wanted to exploit in acceding to Tswangirayi’s inaugural leadership in 1999.
They have since lived to regret their decision; much like the nationalists in the ’70s later regretted their choice of Bishop Muzorewa to drive the NO vote against the Pearce Commission’s referendum.
Once the little Bishop tested had leadership, he refused to step aside and yet his appointment had only been temporary. Tswangirayi has proved to be more or less the same.
Those who requested him to lead have seen the serious flaws in his leadership; but the man will not go, for power has become just too sweet to let go.
CODE is just one of the many strategies these guys are now embarking on in not only trying to get rid of Mugabe, but Tswangirayi as well!!
Amazed at the number of comments on this non-issue.
Who gives a fcuk what these defunctional units do?
Reaper/avenger is right.
Its time for action!”
MUJIBHA….what you must know is that your Morgan Tsvangirai is also a ZANU-PF Card carrying member..he is also from ZANU-PF…Morgan Tsvangirai knows ZANU-PF structures left and right…do not point fingers to other opposition Leaders as they are only the ones from ZANU-PF….watch your steps my friend and learn Zimbabbwean politics….you will tell young people lies…..