via Zim groups discuss grand coalition | SW Radio Africa by Mthulisi Mathuthu on Thursday, April 17, 2014
Players in the opposition political movement may be considering joining forces and forming a grand coalition, in a bid to unseat the ZANU PF regime.
Over the past few weeks officials from some opposition political parties have spoken about the need for such a coalition, following the disappointment with the last election result, which ZANU PF fraudulently won.
Some political observers acknowledge that ZANU PF stole the election but say the opposition also failed to coordinate and work together, choosing instead to split the vote, even in areas where fielding one opposition candidate would have worked in their favour.
On Friday the South African based Mail and Guardian newspaper said Zim opposition political figures were talking with a view to working together under a grand coalition.
So far the rumour is that this coalition will include political formations such as Welshman Ncube’s MDC, the MDC Renewal Team, Lovemore Madhuku’s NCA, civil society groups and churches.
According to the Mail & Guardian, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been excluded from the coalition, possibly because of the current internal strife that has seen the expulsion of key party members who wanted him to step down.
Last month MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti, who is said to be part of the renewal team, suggested at a public meeting that opposition forces should form a coalition to fight ZANU PF.
Over the weekend the MDC’s Welshman Ncube reiterated the calls, with MDC-T official Samuel Sipepa Nkomo adding his support for this coalition at a meeting held in Bulawayo Wednesday.
Harare-based economist and keen political observer Vince Musewe confirmed to SW Radio Africa that talks were ongoing between civil society groups, churches and political parties.
He said it was important that civil society groups are involved if this coalition is to work.
Nixon Nyikadzino of rights group the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition welcomes the idea, but said the success of the coalition will largely depend on how inclusive it is and what its objectives are.
“If you remember the MDCs formed a coalition towards last year’s election which failed because they were coalitions of convenience which the parties did not take seriously.
“We need a democratic coalition that is non-sexist, non-violent, promotes tolerance, debate and treats people fairly and equally,” Nyikadzino said.
Useni Sibanda, religious leader and head of the Zim Institute for Social Transformation, said there must be a place in the coalition for the involvement of Zimbabweans currently based abroad.
Sibanda said church leaders in Zimbabwe had grown quiet. He said they should be holding political leaders to account but have withdrawn from this role because of the repression and heavy-handedness of the ZANU PF regime.
COMMENTS
Are my prayers being answered.? Come on Zim!!!!! This is what I have been calling for .I hope we level the playing field first and have an interim leadership so we all have a chance to study the leadership crop before selecting the final candidate.
What you are saying is a good idea but the trueth is if Morgan Tsvangirai in not in this, then stop dreaming. Why do people want to under estimate Tsvangirai, the man is loved by the majority of people, I will bet with my Head if this man is given the space to campaign on radio and TV and all the political parties join hands together including zanu pf they will never win against Tsvangirai, only if zec is independent, and the army, cio, and zrp and tobaiwa mudede and his nikivu stop playing with people’s voices. Hamulume. So without Save stop day dreaming, all these people vakavhurwa maziso naSave to hell with you. I will vote for Save 2018 for president come what
If only these guys can control their egos and desires to consume long enough to hold a steady course
That coalition without Morgan will never work .Morgan has the Masses and will split the votes to the advantage of Zanu.so this coalition is a Zanu Project to stop Tsvangirai from 2018 Victory.it will never beat Mdc-t Mp’s in Parliament.Zim people who vote know who they want and they chose him long time ago, go in the streets and ask they will tell u they want Morgan only Diaspora people who dont vote want Morgan out and those in Zim who want to use the Diaspora to fund them and mis use the funds.i am for a coalition but without Mdc-t its a waste of tme supporting Zanu Grouping ,a genuine Coaliton will have the Main official Opposition as the leader not the other way round .i smell something Zanush
No one is excluded from the suggested coalition if they so wish to join and collectively confront Zanu Pf and participants can include anyone from current opposition parties including Tsvangirai, Ncube, Madhuku, Biti and representatives of civic organisations.
Zindoga, there was a time when it was unthinkable that Zanu p.f. could lose its popularity. Then people realized Zanu p.f. didn’t have the interests of people at heart.
In 1999 the MDC came into existence as a broad based movement consisting of Trade unions, civil society organizations, academics and ordinary people.
Now many have become disillusioned with the MDC because it is becoming a replica of Zanu p.f., corruption, violence, a leadership that won’t discuss succession after 15 years at the helm. Just as Mugabe and his loyalists thought they were invincible, Tsvangirai and his loyalists are of the same mold.
Zindoga, just like Mugabe in 2000, Tsvangirai will wake up and realise he is no Moses after all, never mind what the Chamisas of this world may want to tell him.
The concept is exellent. Pursued in wisdom, honesty and dedication it will work. The will go for it. We wait and see.
Not without Morgan, hate him to your own peril he still is the last man standing.
This is what we have been waiting for, I wish them all the very best. However I feel much as we may dislike the idea Morgan T must be part of the deal, there is no doubt he has the support at grass roots level. Nothing like the support he had previously but still pleanty of support. However it must be made very clear to him that he is part of the concept and not top dog. Maybe as the process evolves he maight become top dog but certainly not until be starts to behave himself and shows decent honest leadership which he has not done up untill now.
A coalition of the good people is the only way forward and from that will hopefully evolve good and honest leaders who care about the country and the people as opposed to their back pockets. We must be vigilant and if this wonderful concept comes about there must be enfoceable checks and balances to ensure the leadership remains true to its principles.
All comments above are very Valid and a coalition can work but as one respondent said EGO’s must not come into it.
Perhaps the fact the the only choices with strength that we have know to oppose PF is why MT remains the choice of the people, if we got other candidates would loyalties change???? I dont know but choice is good selection in the coalition should be made by the people. Constituent representatives should ask who do you want and armed with that name go to the congress and make that vote on behalf of the constituents not on their likes or dislkes.
then who knows will lead us.
THE only problem i have with Morgan is that 15years on he still wants to keep his position and this is what we had with Mugarbage and this got us here.
I am saying Morgan let the people campaign and if you are voted in again GOOD if not work from the side lines, we dont need another President for life and we dont want a dictaor 2 terms is what we voted for in the constitution – uphold that and we will continue to support.
GRAND COALITION WHICH WAS SUGGESTED MANY YEARS AGO.THIS IS THE ONLY ANSWER.HOWEVER I DOUBT ZIMBABWEANS CAN HOLD TRUE TO IT AND CARRY IT TO ITS FULL CONCLUSION.TOO MANY SELFISH PEOPLE WITH THIER OWN AGENDAS.ZIMBABWE WILL NEVER COME RIGHT.NOT IN MY LIFE TIME ANYWAY.ZANU PF ONLY UNDERSTANDS VIOLENCE AND BEATINGS.YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE.AND ZIMBABWEANS WONT DO THIS.THEY WILL WAIT FOR ANOTHER RIGGED ELECTION IN 2018.
A very good idea, try and take the politics out of it to begin with, must be inclusive and if Morgan has the support of the masses as some comments here are claiming then they must realize that Morgan can not do this on his own, he must be humble and wake up to the fact that there are some around him hanging onto his coat tails wanting higher office, this ambition will not work in this coalition that is being proposed…
I loved MDC whole heartedly, but now I want nothing to do with it.MDC now is another ZANU. Those who think Tsvangirai is more popular are mistaken and disillusioned.There are many like me who have opted out.We are patiently waiting for the formation of a new democratic party.
Thembani, i agree unless of course they or MT will practice what he preaches currently will not entertain opposition so we lose interest
Grandcoalition of losers Madhuku Ncube what they want is Money only ,hey Zimbos let us think , When split Morgen he was supporting Zanupf idea of having Senator to a small country like zim ,The same with Madhuku there nomore donors for constitution now he is trying his lucky pliz don’t be fooled by this nonsense coalition of losers Tsvangirai Makoni team is feet go all the way in a well levelled ground. Let’s not rush to election before analyising the processes
Guaranteed success or not,Zimbabweans can no longer just sit-by anymore waiting for the never arriving utopia world entrusted upon one(now)controversial and pariah named Morgan and his personalised Party.Honestly how does one continue to sell the MDC-T brand and convince the electorate that after three routs under the subterfuge of ZANU-PF the MDC-T can still posses a deep repertoire political-wise to take on the now proclaimed cunnings of African elections.I therefore say,under the circumstances any move straight or skewed against the status quo is imminent and wise..
@Madlinduna.people of Zimbabwe know why Morgan is loosing ,dont get personal guys .Elections are rigged thats the truth evryone knows ,hw many Mdc Activist were killed and what did the ordinary Zimbabwean do?? No one joined Tsvangirai to fight this regime but when it comes to his Personal life you join to attack him left right and Centre. Who is Clean in Zim on his Personal life??those who are saying Tsvangirai is not Democratic are the Worst ask people Close in Mdc they will tell you hw these guys behave ,i dont want to name people but i know what they do first hand not hearsay.Who is Clean??? A person in the Diaspora who has never faced challenges first hand here in Zim and then people Vote him only to show his real colours afterwards when he is in State hse.the situation when Mdc ws formed and nw is different so to say a new Party can do much better than Mdc And Zanu i beg to differ guys im a supporter of Mdc but im not Partisan its just the Truth real Politicians know im saying the truth.what i see here is sme people are power hungry and i wonder if that coalition is going to see daylight.they all want to be President. Good luck
TO ZINDOGA;your venerable decision of wisdom Sir to participate on the dire issues that have ashamed us all in the eyes of the world until we prove ourselves otherwise are of great importance to me,despite our different views.Now on the issue of a grand coalition sir,I won’t flatter anyone into or be flustered out of the proposed idea because the MDC-T as the main opposition alone has proven that they are overplayed and manipulatable by the guile of the zanu pf leadership.Unfortunately Mr Zindoga as you are also aware that we can’t be leaders of a Party all of us to oversee,alert and advice the followers on issues of indecency on the part of our enemies.Selected entrusted leaders are obliged to do that.Where are their eyes as the eyes of the masses,on the front seat there when Mugabe continues to be accredited as our president by illegal means contrary to our aspirations.
It seems my prayers are being answered. I liked Morgan for opposing ZANU and dislike him for celebrating the demise of the economy. He thinks Zimbabwe is zanu. Zimbabwe comes first zanu and MDC comes last. I welcome the third dimension as long as it is going to be inclusive and democratic.
This so-called grand coalition will have leadership struggle because none of these leaders are clean therefore they will kill each other for leadership thus derailing the people’s aspirations further.Which civic organisations and churches will be involved when most of these institutions are led by people with connections to the ruling party?This is just like combining dirty laundry into the washing machine and expect it cleaned without adding washing powder in the water.I do not see the required detergent like washing powder to clean the coalition from these corrupt and sellout leaders who failed the masses when they had great opportunity to defeat the weakened party.
The good people within our country should organize themselves and come out with a new credible party.Let us not be fooled by certain people who think these leaders have grass root support without a proper scientific survey.This is all guess work but I know that they have lost many supporters,particularly here in Mat.
Yes they were cheated but you do not make it easy for your opponent to easily outwit you and then start making millions of excuses.I call that stupidity and self imposed complacency which are punishable by total failure.These failures will lead us to more unexplained failures with worse results.
Thus my sincere opinion but it could be wrong.
Wel this Coalition and new party hw is it going to stop Zanu from stealing the next Election ? Are you going for guns or what?when Nkomo refused to take up Arms after all democratic routes have been followed aSplit came and an armed struggle was waged,Mdc-t has tried the democratic means and failed i agree but to say we want another Party to cme and do what Mdc has done talk to Zanu no guns its a waste of time to zimbabweans ,hw are you going to change Zec,Reg General ,ARMY Generals, Police? If u cme with better strategy to confront these guys yes the people of Zim will follow you even me . Coalition will be just for a few guys to get to Parliament.if you leave Mdc t out vote spliting is going to happen and thats were we are going to see whether you want to serve the people or you are a selfish lot out to hoodwink the people of Zim.i wish you good luck
Its a grand coalition of least performers so people wont be bothered to join them. They are just trying to weaken the MDC-T. Unfortunately for them,they are taking people for granted. They will not change anything. Morgan ndizvo!
If the opposition parties had united during the negotiations for the GNU and refused to be intimidated by the security agents which in my opinion were bluffing on their threats because no SADC country would have accepted a military interference in real political power to undermine the AU Charter on military takeovers.No country in the world would support a military government openly.This is why their rule never lasts forever these days.This is the main reason why I do not trust this coalition because its full of people with dubious political understanding.Its no use to get involved in politics if you cannot outwit your opponent and tell when he is bluffing or not.If people are well organized they can penetrate the toughest ugly system and destroy it peacefully eg in 2008 MT won the first round of the election and got majority seats in parliament against all odds so it can be done even if the system is unfair.They lost badly in 2013 due to negligence and complacency and lack of foresight to implement all GNU agreements before holding the election.The blame lies with those who foolishly went to the polls without proper safeguards being put in place.Do not buy a pig in a sack,otherwise you are buying something completely rotten.
There is too much Shona tribalism in Zimbabwe. This will never work. Forget it!!
The so called grand coalition is a group of failed politicians who like ZANU PF have run out of ideas and are hell scared of ZANU PF. Political gangsterism is a sign of failure. These people have been in politics since 1980 and failed because they are all ZANU PF apprentices. A group of people who failed to run their political parties will achieve nothing but failure. Personally I don’t believe in gangsterism and I don’t like to be associated with failure. Itai tioone kunowira tsvimbo nedohwe.