Source: SOUTHERN NEWS | ‘Tsvangirai departure will spell doom’ – DailyNews Live
STAFF REPORTER 17 January 2018
BULAWAYO – Respected lawyer David Coltart, believes no one among the
current crop of opposition leaders can fit in the shoes of MDC president
Morgan Tsvangirai, saying he was the only one with the national appeal and
stamina to beat Zanu PF in the next elections.
The former Education minister said the state of Tsvangirai’s health was a
cause for concern both to the MDC and the MDC Alliance.
Tsvangirai is battling cancer of the colon amid increased pressure from
the general public, civic society and politicians for him to hand over the
baton.
However, in his new year message to the nation, Tsvangirai hinted on
stepping down, in a move that has amplified a succession battle within the
MDC.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily News yesterday, Coltart said
in the event Tsvangirai fails to recover in time that could spell doom for
the opposition in the country.
“The situation has been made difficult by Tsvangirai’s health difficulties
which I am very sympathetic about. What if, for whatever reason, he
decides to resign, or if he is not going to stand as the MDC Alliance’s
presidential candidate, it may be difficult for the Alliance to build a
consensus around some other person, other than Morgan Tsvangirai,” he
said.
Coltart said there was no one in the opposition who had equal support to
that of Tsvangirai.
“He was acknowledged by the main parties to be the individual politician
able to defeat a Zanu PF candidate. There is really no one else among the
opposition leader who has the same gravitas, same charisma and support as
Tsvangirai,” he said.
In the event Tsvangirai decides to step down citing health issues, Coltart
predicted chaos in the opposition.
“I fear there may be a serious contestation that takes place, firstly
within the MDC who will take over from him and secondly within the broader
MDC Alliance who may not be happy with whoever the party puts forward.”
“Again, if Tsvangirai is unable to stand, we cannot be guaranteed that one
of his deputies, if he takes over will be equally committed to the
alliance and that will have a catastrophic effect on the alliance,” he
added.
As a result, he said, it was necessary for the nation to pray for
Tsvangirai’s recovery, adding that if health continued to fail him, it was
also necessary that he rests away from the strenuous political domain.
“But once again, our first hope is that Tsvangirai recovers. It’s a hard
thing to say because it deals with very personal issues of health but
Tsvangirai must be receiving advice from his doctors regarding chances of
recovery and what he needs to do to recover fully.
“I am not a doctor and I don’t pretend to be one but I know when I have
been ill in the past, the best way to get better is by resting,” he said.
My concern is that is we all insist on Tsvangirai running for elections
when he really needs to rest we will be doing him disservice and adversely
affect his health.”
Above all, Coltart suggested that there be an honest discussion among
party and MDC Alliance leaders to chart the way forward regarding
Tsvangirai’s future.
“I think there is need to have an honest discussion within the MDC and the
MDC Alliance leadership centred on Tsvangirai so that we all understand
the state of his health and what his doctors are advising so that we can
then make decisions based on that medical advice.”
He added: “But if his medical advisers tell him that he should not
continue I think he still has a critical role to play using his position
and experience to ensure that there is a smooth transition of power within
the MDC Alliance and help to bring a consensus among the alliance
partners.
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