via Outrage over MDC-T election boycott – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 26, 2015
THERE has been an outpouring of anger from different quarters over the MDC-T’s stance not to participate in the by-elections in the 14 seats that fell vacant following the expulsion of MDC Renewal Team MPs from Parliament.
BY MOSES MATENGA
Many yesterday accused MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai of being “petty” and vindictive, while others felt the move had the potential to cause another split in the opposition party amid reports that rival camps have emerged over the issue.
Impeccable party sources told NewsDay that the decision to push for the recall of 21 MPs and not to fight for the vacant seats had exposed the party and a serious rift had emerged in the movement.
Followers on social media said the development would weaken the MDC-T as the main opposition and given the growing animosity in the party over the developments, another split was imminent.
Analyst Takura Zhangazha, writing on his blog, said the MDC-T had acted out of anger and malice in the matter while the MDC Renewal Team had shown lack of confidence in standing alone as a political party.
“It can only be argued that in its actions, the MDC-T acted largely out of anger that borders on malice as opposed to principle.
“If it believes in parliamentary democracy and the new Constitution that it co-authored, it would have been a logical course of action for it to immediately then say we are still committed to representing our constituents as a party,” Zhangazha said.
“The political implications are another matter altogether. In the first instance, it is a huge contradiction to seek ascendancy over rivals and then not want to reclaim political space that all along they have been clamouring for.”
Commenting on various social platforms, several commentators attacked Tsvangirai and said would mark the end of opposition in the country.
“So what have you won? You were just vindictive for nothing. So donating seats to Zanu PF is better than leaving them in the hands of opposition? Are you saying (MDC Renewal Team secretary-general Tendai) Biti and company are worse than Zanu PF? You are a setback to democracy! You are being childish and petty,” fumed one reader on the NewsDay website.
Another reader who identified himself as Fabion Magamba said: “This is clear evidence that Tsvangirai and his friends cannot think strategically. All he wants is to take away food from Biti’s mouth. If he had any brain, he would have realised that Biti was a better devil. The move will only help in humiliating the residents of Harare and Bulawayo and make them shun opposition politics.”
Another reader said: “So what was the point of recalling MDC Renewal Team MPs from Parliament if the MDC-T knew they would not participate? National leaders are not mired in petty politics, they rise above it! This is childish and vindictive.”
COMMENTS
Would we call you vindictive if you chase out a dog that you brought into the house and it spend all its energy and time barking and biting you instead of barking at the thieves?
No – we would not call you vindictive, but maybe ‘as smelly as a thief’ thats why your own dog keeps barking at you! By the way who brought who into MDC?
Not at all Tsuro!!! Those who criticise miss the point. Biti had verbal diarrhoea when it came to anything to do with Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC – T. Let them eat humble pie!!!
Zimguard, you sure miss the larger picture.
But Tsuro, you wouldn’t then bring in the thieves to share your space and food with you. Would you? You would rather re-tame the dog. I would.
You are being petty in your thinking if you have nothing to contribute why dont you keep your pettiness to yourself. Are you suggesting that the breakaway team did so to fight MDC-T or to provide an alternative front to fight for democracy in zimbabwe. People should agree to disagree without being vindictive.
WHO SAID THEY WONT PARTICIPATE! MARK MY WORDS!
WHO SAID THAT THEY WONT PARTICIPATE! MARK MY WORDS!
Even if the MDC-T participated in these by-elections would the playing field be fair. Thats the question. Confine all uniform branches to barracks etc and pick volunteers from the unemployed to man these polling stations. The current lack in the rule of law by all appears and seems to be our major problem. This merely stems from immaturity, indiscipline and incohesiveness by all parties involved.
Why participate and legitimise a Nikuv’d result that has already been entered into the computers that are down?
I support MDC-T for these resolutions. I was against them participating in 2013 because the field wasnt level, and is not yet level. Why should they participate in a shame elections. Let ZANU PF contest against itself. If MDC-T participate, then they will be legitimising the elections of 2013 and these ones
About time the MDC showed some balls and said to hell with these sham elections.
ZANU is sure to “win” these seats after Nikuv has processed the vote , as has been mentioned.
Lets get rid of ZANU first before participating in anything.
By the way, where is DZAMARA?
We haven’t forgotten him alread, surely?!!
The Bitis and the Mangomas lacked maturity. They should have stayed within and fight from within. Look at what MAi Mujuru is doing, that is political maturity
Well spoken Ngoto. If a white man is caught, tried and sentenced to lawful (under that country’s laws) death, white people as far as the other side of the planet can get concerned to get him/her leniency. It is depressing to belong to and live in a country where the majority of your countrymen will stand and watch as innocent, fellow citizens are brutalized by civil servants paid from our tax dollars;let alone by common criminals.
Doing nothing and forgetting about people like Dzamara cushions us in our comfort zone as in: “You see? You see what happens to you when you think you are braver than the rest of us? Nobody will lift a finger for you. So there’s nothing to be ashamed of in minding my own business and keeping my head low. Hazvibhadhare..”
I agree with the sentiments bout why MDC-T shoud no participate in sham elections but the Question is what was their motive in recalling the MP’s.