Biti, MDC-T, Ncube in shock joint message

Source: Biti, MDC-T, Ncube in shock joint message

ALLIES turned bitter rivals Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma finally found each other weekend, joining fellow opposition parties in issuing a joint statement to mark Zimbabwe’s 36 years of independence.

Until this weekend, Biti, now leader of People Democratic Party (PDP), a breakaway group from the MDC-T led by Tsvangirai, had vowed never to work with a “pseudo democrat”, whom he accused of barren leadership and mimicking President Robert Mugabe’s dictatorial tendencies.

This was when calls for a united opposition front were made in efforts to unseat Mugabe and his Zanu PF party.

Before the 2014 split, the second such split in the main opposition’s short history, Biti and Mangoma were Tsvangirai’s lieutenants, ensconced in their portfolios as MDC-T secretary general and deputy treasurer general.

Both Biti and Mangoma broke ranks with the former Prime Minister at the same time to operate as a separate political entity until they both went separate ways again with Mangoma forming the Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe.

In their separate enclaves, the firebrand politicians have also turned down invitations by Tsvangirai to hold joint prayer rallies organised by the MDC-T for missing pro-democracy activist Itai Dzamara who was seized from his Harare home by suspected state agents more than a year ago.

Their joint Independence Day statement marks a surprise departure from their entrenched positions, something that could pave way for the much desired grand coalition to upstage Zanu PF in 2018.

In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, PDP secretary general Gorden Moyo said the rivals were pursuing a common objective.

“We are different movements with a common objective of dismantling dictatorship in Zimbabwe,” Moyo said.

Earlier this year, opposition parties excluded Tsvangirai when they tasked Biti to facilitate coalition talks amongst themselves.

Meanwhile, in their joint statement, opposition parties lamented the country was celebrating independence day under the current misrule which has brought unemployment, corruption and the collapse of public service delivery among other ills.

They are Marcelina Chikasha’s African Democratic Party, Gilbert Dzikiti’s Democratic Assembly for Restoration and Empowerment (DARE), Simba Makoni’s Mavambo/Kusile as well as the two MDC formations led by Welshman Ncube and Tsvangirai.

Also part of the joint statement were Lovemore Madhuku’s NCA, Dumiso Dabengwa’s ZAPU, Farai Mbira’s Zimbabweans United for Democracy (ZUNDE) and Mangoma’s outfit.

“We the democratic opposition political parties on this our Independence Day pledge to the people of Zimbabwe our commitment to work together with the people to find collective and common solutions to restore our national economy; deliver secure land rights to our people; restore the country’s status as the bread basket of Africa,” said the opposition parties.

They also pledged to “end to corruption; restore the dignity of the people and respect for their fundamental freedoms, liberties and rights underpinned by unqualified respect for the rule of law, justice and equality of all citizens; restore business ethics; food security; attract new investment and capital”.

The parties further promised to “create secure jobs; rehabilitate national infrastructure; provide basic services and effective social safety nets; securing the rights of working people against all forms of exploitation; genuine empowerment of all citizens and full restoration of democratic governance beginning with the implementation of electoral reforms which will ensure that in every election the true will of the people prevails”.

They added, “We the said democratic opposition parties of Zimbabwe, in wishing all Zimbabweans a memorable commemoration of the 36th Independence anniversary commit ourselves to work together tirelessly to secure for our people the values and principles of the liberation struggle which must be the foundation of a prosperous Zimbabwe.”

However conspicuous by its absence was Joice Mujuru’s ZimPF party which issued its own separate statement to coincide with the country’s independence celebrations.