(Last Updated on October 7, 2015 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – HARARE – Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has told “a desperate Zanu PF” that is allegedly working hard to stop him and the MDC from working with former Vice President Joice Mujuru that the ruling party is wasting their time.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, the popular former Prime Minister in the Government of National Unity said it was clear that President Robert Mugabe and his post-congress Zanu PF were rattled by the prospects of the MDC working with Mujuru to turf them out of power in the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections.
Tsvangirai said so desperate had Zanu PF become about the issue that the party was allegedly trying to infiltrate the MDC and other opposition parties with a view of scuppering the mooted pact with Mujuru and her People First movement.
In that vein, Tsvangirai urged the opposition, including senior officials from his own party, to be careful about being used and manipulated by Zanu PF and making unfounded pronouncements about “non-existent posts” in the mooted united front against Mugabe and Zanu PF.
“I am worried about the apparent infiltration by Zanu PF agents who want to destabilise opposition alliances. They have gone into overdrive in making sure we are divided going into the 2018 elections.
“Speaking as the president of the MDC, I would like to make it clear that we are, and that we will work with Mai Mujuru and all other opposition parties to ensure that we deliver real freedom and a better life to all Zimbabweans. We need to unite with other progressive forces instead of raising alarm about non-existent posts.
“We have not yet gone into full discussions with for instance Mai Mujuru and I therefore don’t understand when people start saying talks have stalled because of alleged fight over posts.
“Which positions are they talking about as there are no positions to talk about at the moment? What is there is a regime which has destroyed the economy, which has rendered us beggars and which has no respect for human rights and is desperate to remain in power by any means necessary.
“This is the regime we must focus on making sure is defeated, not these so-called positions. Is Mai Mujuru our enemy? No!
“Why are we then removing our eyes from the ball? Our enemy as opposition parties is Zanu PF, not Mai Mujuru and other opposition leaders,” the resolute Tsvangirai said.
The veteran opposition leader, who triumphed over Mugabe in 2008 but was foiled from leading the country, is currently trying to join hands with other opposition parties in order to end Zanu PF’s 35 years of contested rule.
However, he is facing significant challenges in this endeavour, including in his party, with some of his top officials singing from a completely different hymn book, arguing against a pact with Mujuru and her People First outfit and accusing them of having perpetrated gross human rights violations in the past.
According to these MDC officials, disgruntled liberation stalwarts who belong to Mujuru’s People First must also not expect to get top positions in any opposition grand coalition.
However, Tsvangirai said yesterday that there was “absolutely no need” to fight over positions now.
“I’m an advocate for a united front against Mugabe and Zanu PF and so why should we even discuss positions now. We need to focus on important strategic issues not fights for positions which are not there anyway,” he said.
Other MDC insiders claimed in interviews with the Daily News yesterday that some influential opposition figures were allegedly being “persuaded and bribed” by Zanu PF to discredit the mooted alliance between Tsvangirai and Mujuru, to ensure that Mugabe’s party retained power in the next elections.
One of the top MDC officials who spoke to the newspaper said it was “shameful” that some key officials in the party were being “used” by Zanu PF to make sure there was no alliance between Tsvangirai and Mujuru.
“It is shameful that some of us are selling out for a few pieces of silver. It’s Zanu PF which is creating unnecessary problems among the opposition parties because they realise a Mujuru/Tsvangirai alliance is just what the doctor ordered.
“I am told money is exchanging hands to destabilise this imminent alliance among the opposition parties, especially the deal between Tsvangirai and Mujuru,” he charged.