via Zapu, MDC to join forces – NewsDay Zimbabwe 10 November 2014
ZAPU president, Dumiso Dabengwa last week revealed that his party had agreed to join forces and form a grand coalition with two MDC formations, but cautioned that they will remain wary in signing any agreement as a way of protecting the party.
Addressing hundreds of people on Wednesday at Sontala business centre in Kezi, Dabengwa said they had deliberated on a number of issues and agreed to join forces, but he made it clear that they will keep their name.
“As a party we are happy that you our supporters have given us the go ahead to join forces with these other political parties,” he said.
“We have agreed on various issues, but we told them point blank that our name should remain visible so as to avoid what happened in 1987, when the so called Unity Accord was signed.”
Dabengwa said MDC and MDC Renewal promised to meet Zapu at end of November and map the way forward, as they were still deliberating on the name.
“They have promised to come back to us end of this month with their name,” he explained.
“We shall combine our forces together and make sure that everyone benefits in this process as a whole.”
The former Zipra intelligence supremo denied allegations that Zapu was a Zanu PF project, saying such messages were being spread by propagandists that wanted to destroy his party.
“The most important thing that I want all of you Zapu members to know is that all those who are spreading propaganda that we are a Zanu PF project are lying and they should go back to their political parties and deal with their problems,” he said, in reference to problems bedevilling Zanu PF and MDC-T.
Dabengwa encouraged members to come up with structures in their braches, wards and provinces ahead of their elective congress slated for next year, so that when they work with other parties, information will be clear and be well communicated.
He said he was not likely to contest the next elections, but wanted to give younger politicians a chance to vie for the Presidency.
“It is my wish that the up-and-coming youngsters such as (MDC leader) Welshman (Ncube), (MDC Renewal secretary general, Tendai) Biti and (Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader, Simba) Makoni can lead the coalition as presidential candidates, while I remain the president of the party or coalition,” he said.
A grand coalition is due to be launched at the end of the month, with MDC, MDC Renewal, Zapu and MKD set to join forces.
COMMENTS
with no much thinking, may the people of Zim be sobre, and see the root cause of our economic shrink and come up with a solid solution, anything that is cloudy delays our freedom.
The idea that getting rid of Mugabe by joining parties is good I agree but it seems there is still a big problem . The will of the people is not being recognised. Mugabe must be beaten by a large majority and the way one sees this new formation they do not have the majority of voters. Thus it appears again is this formation another con to ensure Zanu holds onto power or a way to ensure Morgan doesnot win again . Either way the people lose again.
The tot sum in support or following for Biti, Dabengwa and Makoni is 5% of Morgan’s support….why waste time
Joining together to form a coalition is a good thing but if you are several small parties with no big following that will achieve nothing. Going by the last election Ncube’s MDC and Zapu did not have many supporters whilst’s Biti’s Renewal is an unknown quantity and so this could end up being another top heavy arrangement.
Dabengwa had 0.74% of the vote and Ncube had 2.68% and so together those two had 3.42% and so Biti’s Renewal will need to bring around 48% to win.
@Tino…you are right…..Mr Biti is expected to bring 48% after rigging. It is and will never be possible bcz of 1. Rigging 2. Biti is a coward and his fellow supporters have lost all faith 3. His popularity was riding on MDC support base
For now, I wld rather support ZANU pf than the coalition. As you can see, MKF (that ZANU pf project) behaves like a prostitute switching between parties spying for HE RGM
Nothing ventured, nothing gained Tino….add the sum of all these smaller parties to force a level playing field and those that fear change will now vote for change (again) and actually take charge of the result!!
Dabengwa is a spent force, if he ever was one. Pure opportunist. He likes pretending he is Joshua Nkomo. He is not. When times were tough for real ZAPU cadres, this man used to defend Mugabe like an idiot. Unlike the Russian he was rumored to be, he is a jelly baby. Today’s ZAPU should be led by principled people, otherwise it is just a joke.
Zimbabwe has only ONE enemy ,Zanu PF.
ONE opposition party, MDC T.Any patriotic Zimbabwean will agree with me that the Zimbabwe situation needs ONE formidable opposition just for now. The big question is”..Who has the balls and the brains to unite Zimbabwe like Dr Joshua Nkomo did?” I only see oppotunists there.If it was not for the MDC T when were these oppotunist think of starting political opposition parties in the first place? Swallow your pride,sacrifice you ego and do Zimbabwe a service by going back to where you come from. If there is no economical and political roadmap then everything else is a joke.