Editorial

The generality of the opposition members in Zimbabwe greeted the formation of the MDC Alliance with hope that the formation signalled that ZANU PF’s days in office were numbered. 

There was jubilation when the late MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai joined hands with other opposition leaders to challenge ZANU PF political hegemony.

Barely some few months after Tsvangirai’s death, the Alliance is engulfed in turmoil following the assumption of the Alliance leadership by Nelson Chamisa, who has brought an entirely different approach to how the Alliance should function.

Chamisa has literally sabotaged other Alliance partners by clandestinely taking over seats that were allocated to them, under the guise that MDC-T candidates stand a better chance of winning in those constituencies.

MDC leader, Prof Welshman Ncube was undiplomatic when he attacked Chamisa over the issue, saying “the truth of the matter is that the seats were seized for and on behalf of specific individuals for not so legitimate reasons. Dishonesty, deception and treating colleagues and allies with disdain, disrespect and contempt can never be water under the bridge, In any event, who removed their own weak candidates some of whom are barely literate and others are so under-resourced that I personally have had to help them fund their campaigns.”

Given the strong sentiments by Prof Ncube, it is apparent that all is not well in the Alliance. Chamisa and other hawks in the MDC-T are driven by the false belief that they hold the keys to the opposition jacket in Zimbabwe, hence they can treat other partners in a rough shoddy manner.

It is also a lesson to Alliance partners that the Alliance, as originally conceived by Tsvangirai, has lost its direction as Chamisa has appropriated it to achieve his own selfish personal political ambitions.

He unilaterally dumped Harare West constituency incumbent legislator, Jessie Majome and replaced her with his rumoured girlfriend, Joana Mamombe. This is despite indications that Majome is still popular in the constituency.

Given the prevailing anti-MDC-T sentiments by ordinary supporters of other Alliance partners, it is not surprising that the Alliance will not be alive by 30 July. Alternatively, the ‘bhora musango’ rebellion will be a reality.

The prevailing disgruntlement resulted in 79 Alliance members registering as independent candidates or double candidates in constituencies where other Alliance partners fielded candidates. 

This is surely a recipe for ‘bhora musango’.