Source: Coalition deal historic, game changer: PDP
THE opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has described as historic the coalition deal reached by several other parties earlier this week which will see them fielding only one candidate for all contested positions in the next elections due in 2018.
“This is indeed a game changer for Zimbabwean politics as political parties have put aside their differences in order to work for the common good of Zimbabwe,” said PDP spokesman Jacob Mafume in a statement.
“It will ensure that the vote of the opposition remains the vote of the opposition by fielding only one candidate in all contested positions and at all levels, the Local Government, National Assembly, Senate and most importantly, the Presidency.”
Parties that signed the Coalition of Democrats Agreement (CODE) agreement on Tuesday include ZUNDE, DARE, MDC led by Prof Welshman Ncube, RDZ and Simba Makoni’s MKD.
PDP leader and former finance minister Tendai Biti attended the signing ceremony and commended the deal saying: “if you want to go fast go alone, [but] if you want to go far go with others”.
The party has however yet to join the coalition.
“We hope to complete our internal processes soon and too append our signatures to a process we have been a part of since 2014,” Mafume explained.
“The PDP would like to assure the nation that it is a firm believer that a strong and formidable coalition is the only key to unseating the dictator that has tormented and held Zimbabwe at ransom for the past 36 years.
“The PDP firmly believes that there is need for unity of purpose to create a new Zimbabwe.”
However, two conspicuous absentees from the deal include the MDC-T led by former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai and ex-vice president Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF).
ZimPF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said they were still studying the deal while MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora said they were not invited.
“We will not force ourselves on anyone. So this CODE thing, we do not know about it and we were never advised about it,” Mwonzora told NewZimbabwe.com in an interview.
“We are a mass party and MDC-T is against anything that looks like an elite pact.
“We do not know their logic, what they stand for, their objectives and some of them were heard saying they did not want MDC-T to be part of them.”
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