EDITOR — The leadership renewal call by some members of the MDC has not been given the attention it deserves by true progressive members of the opposition movement.
Morgan Tsvangirai, the real target of the renewal calls has also managed to stifle debate on the same, using his well-known old strategy of unleashing violence against those who decide to oppose him.
It is sad that the discourse in the opposition movement has not been allowed to flow freely so as to allow people to air their views on what really has necessitated these renewal calls in a democratic manner.
In the past months, I have had an opportunity to mingle with some officials who were in the MDC government parallel structures that was powered by Institute of Democratic Alternative in Zimbabwe (IDAZIM).
This group constituted of think tanks that constantly put together research papers on the route the MDC was to take in the previous general elections.
According to some of these officials, Tsvangirai had the sole prerogative of endorsing or throwing away proposals as they came.
It is now coming out that Tsvangirai was very indecisive on what action to take on some of the critical proposals that were submitted to his office, thereby the blame on last year’s election loss is put squarely on his indecisiveness.
What pains the renewal camp most is that Tsvangirai is now implementing some of the proposals way after the resounding victory by Zanu PF.
The growing feeling within the MDC circles is that the indecisive nature of Tsvangirai will keep the party moving in circles.
In some instances, insiders hint that where he acted, it was done half-heartedly such as the idea of the labour-backed party having a liberation flair in the movement as a way of outwitting Zanu PF through courting former Zipra elements.
Questions that need answers are: does the MDC see any opportunities in engaging with Zipra including Dabengwa’s outfit?
This engagement may not really be about unification but establishing a common front towards and even after elections?
How much legitimacy of the liberation struggle history will an alliance with Zipra give to the MDC party?
How does this also impact the Matabeleland vote?
How much does this also create regional and Pan-Africa legitimacy for the MDC to have an alliance with one of the most credible liberation struggle history mars?
Dingizulu Moyo