Biti, Ncube, Makoni, Zapu close to deal

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.