Staff Reporter
MDC-Alliance Executive Council member, Decent Bajila bemoaned a sharp decline of the opposition party’s support base, a scenario he has attributed to factional fights within that party.
Speaking during a voter election results analysis training of trainers workshop in Bulawayo last week, Bajila who facilitated the workshop, said the MDC-Alliance had been experiencing a sharp decline in support base since 2013. He cited a voter pattern in 2013 and 2018 elections. He said in Bulawayo province, the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai garnered 78 percent in 2013 elections while the current leader Nelson Chamisa in 2018 got 45 percent in the same province.
“This is just one of the many cases which are indicating that we are losing it as a party. We need to work hard if we really want our president Chamisa and our party leadership to win the 2023 election. Ngaapinde hake mukomana slogan should translate into action. Chanting Ngaapinde hake mukomana alone without mobilising voters will not help us,” he said.
Bajila attributed the decline of the opposition Party’s support base to factionalism and in-house fighting which he said had split the party.
The MDC-Alliance’s factional fight pitting Chamisa and his deputy Tendai Biti, has divided the party’s benefactors over which horse to support ahead of the 2023 elections. The United States of America believes Chamisa is a liability and prefers Biti who they view as braver and more mature leader who can stand against Zanu-PF.
The Bulawayo workshop was attended by provincial chairpersons, organising secretaries, secretaries for elections from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South provinces.
Delegates at the workshop agreed that parallel structures and fielding of double candidates were factors also contributing to the dwindling of the opposition party’s support base. To solve the issue of double fielding, they resolved that only Chamisa should append his signature on candidate forms, though some members thought the move is tantamount to autocracy.
The delegates also admitted that citizens were losing hope on the party’s failure to bring change in the country for the past 22 years. They also noted that party members’ frustration and disgruntlement led to defections to Zanu-PF, MDC-T and some to independent candidates.
Matabeleland North Provincial Assembly Chairperson, Prince Dubeko Sibanda told the delegates that the party leadership, however, thinks the party’s support base is growing. He said that they were being deceived by the crowds at rallies which do not translate into votes.
