Last chance saloon for MDC

By Tichaona Sibanda
26 October 2005

With prophets of doom predicting a split in the opposition it is gradually emerging both sides have realized they cannot do without each other and are making efforts to patch up their differences.

Sources in the party have said a meeting of the National Council is being organized with a view to resolving the impasse. It is only after this fails that an extra-ordinary congress might be considered to break the deadlock.

Analysts believe Morgan Tsvangirai the party leader and Welshman Ncube the Secretary General know that they need each other to overcome the current crisis. The congress for the MDC is set for the 26th of January next year.

Tsvangirai is expected to issue a statement on Thursday outlining the current political problems and the way he believes the issue should be resolved. Analysts believe he will use the occasion to try and extend an olive branch to the Welshman Ncube faction.

Bekithemba Mhlanga a political commentator believes the issue dividing the party now is tribal or regional but a problem based on differences between the way the two groups interpret their constitution.

‘It’s a question of both sides swallowing their egos and coming back to deal with the enemy, which is Zanu (PF),’ said Mhlanga.