by Bevan Musoko

The envisaged political marriage between MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa and the Mugabe-formed National Patriotic Front is suffering a stillbirth due to deep seated divisions within the Alliance and the NPF.

On one hand, other Alliance partners, particularly MDC-N leader, Prof Welshman Ncube, are against the political pact on the grounds that the Mugabe brand is toxic news to the majority of Zimbabweans. Fears abound that his inclusion, whether directly or through proxies, will damage the Alliance.

On the other hand, factional differences in the NPF pitting Ambrose Mutinhiri and the Mugabe faction fronted by Eunice Sandi-Moyo and others continue unabated. Impeccable sources within the formation are disclosing that the Mugabes are holding on to millions of dollars funding and vehicles as a way of pressuring Mutinhiri to withdraw his candidature and pledge support to Chamisa.

Recently, former First Lady Grace Mugabe told Sandi-Moyo that she is ready to fund the NPF as well as provide a large fleet of twin cab vehicles, on condition Mutinhiri withdraws. On his part, Mutinhiri is adamant that he will not withdraw. He is even playing hide and seek with Mugabe, avoiding meeting the nonagenarian despite Mugabe’s attempts to meet him.

Sensing a chance to highjack the party, Saviour Kasukuwere has been providing funding to the Sandi-Moyo faction on a piece-meal basis, hoping to take advantage of its financial situation to position himself for eventual takeover of the party.

This has left Chamisa in a perilous position as he is keen to secure Mugabe’s public endorsement in time for the election, which endorsement is still to come due to the intransigence being displayed by Mutinhiri.