(Last Updated on October 5, 2015 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been openly defied over his proposed coalition with ex-Zanu PF deputy president Joice Mujuru.
Tsvangirai last week indicated he would be willing to go to bed with Mujuru but some of his most influential lieutenants at the weekend came short of telling the former Premier to “stay away.
Addressing a rally in Kuwadzana, combative youth assembly leader Happymore Chidziva led the charge, declaring any coalition with Mujuru would be seen as betrayal by those who died for the struggle.
It will be a betrayal of those who died for the democratic struggle if we are to be seen to work together with people who presided over the abuse and killings of our people in Mashonaland Central.
It is not going to happen under our watch, Chidziva said.
We are unambiguous as to where we stand; Tsvangirai has capacity and the MDC is capable for winning power without support from any other faction or party and we are ready to go it alone.
Chidziva’s comments resonated with another veteran MDC-T activist and former Energy Minister Elias Mudzuri who chided Mujuru to come out of her self-imposed cocoon.
Hatifaniri kukumira mombe yevhu. Mujuru wacho arikupi, ngaauye ataure ega (We cannot be forced to elevate Mujuru into some personality that she is not. She must speak for herself), Mudzuri said.
Kuwadzana East MP and former ICT minister Nelson Chamisa chipped in, warning Mujuru that she should not expect to be given the leadership of the opposition on a platter.
Then there is the issue of this woman who used to be in Zanu PF. She should earn the trust of Zimbabweans. There is no way that she can expect to just come and jump the queue into the driving seat.
We have come too far to let that happen; she should not run ahead of herself. Mujuru has her own problems, she is a troubled woman, said Chamisa.
Mujuru was fired from Zanu PF late last year as the ruling party’s vicious succession wars turned into an ugly fight that threatened the stability of the country.
Following her expulsion, Mujuru has been associated with a political outfit going by the moniker People First that has within its ranks former Zanu PF senior officials such as ex-spokesperson Rugare Gumbo and former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa.
Talk of a coalition amongst the country’s opposition parties has gathered steam as Zimbabweans hope for a concerted effort by politicians to force President Robert Mugabe’s 35 year-old administration out ahead of expected 2018b general elections.