MDC’s Tsvangirai goes on diplomatic offensive

By Tichaona Sibanda
23 May 2006

Movement for Democratic Change President Morgan Tsvangirai arrives in London on Thursday on the second leg of a visit to European capitals as part of an initiative by his party to try to establish itself as the main opposition in Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai, who has hardly travelled outside the country following the acrimonius split in the MDC last year, is using this trip to raise his party’s profile, according to the MDC-UK chairman Washington Ali.

Ali believes Tsvangirai has firmly established his authority in the party at home and now needs to brief activists outside Zimbabwe on the MDC’s new domestic and foreign policies following the second people’s congress in Harare. And the activists are just as keen to engage in dialogue with Tsvangirai over the contentious issue of where the party is heading to after the March congress.

Two rallies have been lined up in the UK. Tsvangirai, who is leading a delegation that comprises secretary-general Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma, deputy secretary-general and the party’s deputy secretary for International Affairs Grace Kwinjeh will address his first rally in Leeds on Saturday at the HQ club along Newton road. On Sunday he will be in London at South Camden community school in Camden. Both rallies are scheduled to start at 1pm.

‘This is the first time in almost a year that the President has been to the UK and as such many people here are so eager to hear him explain the party’s position on a range of issues including the forthcoming mass demonstrations,’ Ali said.

The UK district, which now operates as an external province of the party following an adoption of a resolution at the congress to rebrand structures in the disapora, has firmly backed the party’s call to confront the Mugabe regime through peaceful protests.

‘The President will also use this trip to get activists in the diaspora prepared for the mass demonstrations. This is not a confrontation for the people in Zimbabwe alone but a fight for every Zimbabwean seeking an end to this Mugabe madness,’ said Ali.