Source: Chamisa, Mujuru cosying up – DailyNews Live
Mugove Tafirenyika 29 May 2018
HARARE – MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and National People’s Party (NPP)
president Joice Mujuru are moving towards joining forces in order to fight
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF party as a cohesive unit at the
forthcoming general elections in July.
NPP spokesperson Jefferson Chitando confirmed the talks, saying these have
reached an advanced stage.
“Since the death of (founding MDC president Morgan) Tsvangirai in
February, talks between the two parties for a coalition have never stopped
and it is our hope that the talks will be concluded as soon as possible
because that is the only way we can have Zimbabwe working again,” Chitando
said.
“Mujuru has been meeting other leaders of opposition parties lately
although I cannot tell you details but it is reality that meetings have
been held not only with Chamisa but with other leaders as well”.
Chitando expressed hope that an announcement would be made soon. Chamisa’s
spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka referred questions to MDC acting
spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo saying he was on study leave.
While Khumalo was not immediately available for a comment, Chamisa is on
record extending an olive branch to Mujuru and Zapu president Dumiso
Dabengwa.
Addressing MDC supporters at Pelandaba Stadium in Gwanda last weekend,
Chamisa said he was mooting a grand coalition with Mujuru, Dabengwa and
other smaller parties in order to dismantle Mnangagwa and Zanu PF’s
hegemony.
“The people in this country need to be united. I asked Mujuru and Dabengwa
and other small political parties to join me. We need a united front to
beat Zanu PF,” he said.
Analysts are unanimous that a united opposition, fighting with one
purpose, could easily bring Zanu PF’s rule to an abrupt end, especially at
a time when Mnangagwa is facing rebellion in his party over the just-ended
primary elections.
Several losing Zanu PF Members of Parliament have been threatening to run
as independent candidates or vote for the opposition in protest over
alleged rigging of the primary polls.
Proponents for a grand coalition believe that Mujuru, whose liberation
struggle nom de guerre was Teurai Ropa (Spill Blood), and whose husband,
Solomon, was the first black post-independence army commander, could
provide the much-needed bridge that opposition parties have been missing
to ensure the smooth transfer of power if they win elections.
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