via Ncube bemoans ‘snail’s pace’ of coalition talks – NewsDay Zimbabwe April 12, 2016
MDC leader Welshman Ncube has raised alarm at the snail’s pace at which his colleagues in the opposition are moving to iron out their differences to pave way for coalition talks to end Zanu PF rule.
BY Nqobile Bhebhe
Ncube yesterday warned time was fast running out for them to coalesce ahead of the 2018 elections.
“The last 15 years have proven there is no single opposition party with the capacity to confront and defeat a government such as the one we have in any election,” he said.
“Time is of the essence. We have basically 22 months before the next elections, but the last 12 months would really be for campaigning. So we need to be able to find each other much sooner, long before the end of this year.”
He said there was consensus among opposition players that “we are facing a national crisis” and that it was necessary “for us to begin to put our heads together, act collectively and seek to find collective solutions”.
“Everyone is talking to everyone,” he said.
Ncube said the challenge was finding an agreement to formalise the coalition.
“Even if we were to win political power, you will need collective national solutions to mobilise every Zimbabwean, regional and international community to have a local Marshall Plan. I believe there is growing realisation among all the opposition players for a collective action and approach to 2018.”
The Marshall Plan was a United States programme to aid Western Europe in the aftermath of World War II.
Asked whether the coalition talks were being stalled by personal egos among opposition leaders, Ncube said: “It’s not about egos, but about genuine political differences in what we should stand for and what sort of government we will form if we win.”
Several opposition parties have come out in support of a coalition pact, but not much progress has been made to bring them together to challenge the faction-ridden ruling Zanu PF.
These include People’s Democratic Party led by Tendai Biti, Zapu, Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe, National Constitutional Assembly and the newly-formed Zimbabwe People First fronted by former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
The Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T has long indicated that it would not be part of the coalition talks, but was willing to work with anyone opposed to Zanu PF irrespective of their numerical value.
COMMENTS
Any coalition involving a party that’s headed by Mugs is doomed to failure.
BIG EGOS!!!
Surprising to hear someone who led a splinter group now needing others, after realising that his own ego did not get him anyway. He actually wants the coalition to come early, so that he can sabotage internally and sell out to the enemy as he has been doing before. Here is an example of a man who thinks he is learned, but cannot help Zimbabwe by his education. All he managed to do was to run away with the purse, when MDC split and Tendai Biti did the same. You two guys, plus Mangoma should be approaching Morgan, kuti Mudhara toita sei because on your own, you are big sellouts to people who really yearn for a democratic Zimbabwe. You really have to wait for Zanu Pf until they have aimed the ballistic missile at themselves? Still you are not convincing enough because of your tainted past. How many flip flops has Mugabe done for the past 36 years, while in charge of the nation done and yet his lieutenants applied cosmetics to it and never left. Morgan your leader does a few mistakes, while not in charge of anything, then you leave in droves? Kushaya njere chaidzo from the so called educated!