Madhuku says room for only ONE MDC in Zimbabwe

By Violet Gonda
17 March 2006

Analysts have said the MDC Congress may finally seal the split in the crisis ridden opposition party.

The chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly, Dr Lovemore Madhuku, has warned that Zimbabweans will not entertain two factions in the struggle against the dictatorship saying; “There is only one room and that room must be fitted by one MDC. After this congress civic leaders and the other people who are interested in the progress of the country will have to choose which group we will decide to call the MDC.”

He said this last congress will not only show which faction commands the majority of the people who are opposed to the regime but also define whether Morgan Tsvangirai, as the founding president of the MDC, is still able to rally the masses behind him.

The outspoken commentator stressed Zimbabwe cannot afford to have the luxury of having two movements if they seriously want to get rid of the Mugabe regime adding; “We will not tolerate the personal egos of the gentlemen who are leading the two groups. If we see people are behind Tsvangirai we will tell the people that they must go behind Tsvangirai. If we see people are behind Mutambara we will tell the people that they must go behind Mutambara.”

The opposition party split into two factions when party President Morgan Tsvangirai defied a National Council vote on October 12th on whether to participate in the senate elections.

Tsvangirai felt the senate did not represent the desires of the party’s grassroots and was a waste of much needed money while his colleagues in the Top 6 felt that as a political party they needed to participate in the political process and did not want to lose ground to ZANU PF. Tsvangirai was accused of being a dictator, which subsequently led to the group seeking a High Court application to suspend him. The application was thrown out by the courts.

Observers say the senate issue was the straw that broke the camel’s back as the rift between the top leadership has been widening in the last 3 years.

Madhuku who attended the congress for the pro-senate side is also going as an observer to this congress. He said the turn out, enthusiasm and sense of purpose seen at the two separate congresses will show which group commands support from the majority of people.

The Tsvangirai led faction reports that over 13 000 delegates had been accredited by noon Friday, with more expected as the day progressed. There were at least 3 000 delegates who attended the congress for the other group, led by the former militant student leader Arthur Mutambara, last month.

In his acceptance speech as leader of the group Mutambara called for unity and reconciliation. Asked whether Tsvangirai should take that hand of reconciliation for the sake of progress Madhuku said, “Unfortunately Mutambara is the wrong person to preach unity. Once he decided to join one group of MDC that resonated better with his views… it becomes very difficult for the other group to accept him as a person who is genuine.”

Madhuku believes it is therefore not possible for Mutambara to lead this crusade saying he must now allow other people to talk about unity between the two groups.

On the other hand some observers say Tsvangirai can be partly held responsible for splitting the MDC and faces the stern test this week of reorganising and rejuvenating his party. Madhuku said Tsvangirai has to learn from his mistakes of the previous years, “The mistake which he had was hesitating on leading a mass uprising against the Mugabe regime.”