by Christopher Makaza
Following continuous rift between distressed MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and an MDC aligned cabal, the Veterans Activist Association (VAA), the two held a meeting sometime last week with a view to ironing out issues affecting the party.
The VAA accused Chamisa of contributing to MDC Alliance`s dismal performance against Zanu PF during the July 30 harmonised election because of his dictatorial tendencies and imposition of candidates. The VAA members dismissed Chamisa`s unsubstantiated claims that he won the July plebiscite, urging him to concede defeat and move on to strategise for the 2023 election.
During the meeting, Chamisa once again exhibited his lies and rhetoric expertise, claiming that Vice President Constatino Chiwenga had called him, asking to work with Zanu PF. Chamisa claimed that he told the VP that he would only work with the ruling party if it conceded defeat and acknowledged that he won the election. He told the veteran activists that he gave Zanu PF the condition that he would be the one dictating the pace of Government of National (Unity GNU).
Ironically Chamisa was quoted in today`s Newsday urging President Emmerson Mnangagwa to consider negotiating with him for the progress of the country. He is quoted as having said, “Dialogue is a national necessity. The idea of a Government of National Unity should be a result of dialogue. There has to be a discussion on the fundamental issues affecting Zimbabwe. I must warn Zanu PF and Mnangagwa that the zero-sum game will not work.”
Prior to VAA and Chamisa`s meeting, the veteran activists had held a briefing which was chaired by their National Coordinator, James Makore wherein they bemoaned marginalisation of VAA members by MDC Alliance citing the co-option of the likes of MDC Alliance principle Tendai Biti and Professor Welshman Ncube without consulting them. Because of their disgruntlement, the VAA vowed not to mobilise people for the intended MDC 19th anniversary celebrations.
The sour relationship between the two seems to be irreversible as two weeks ago, VAA allegedly revealed that they wanted to replace Chamisa with Divine Mafa, a United States of America based MDC member whom they believe is mature and reasonable. VAA is also blaming MDC National Chairperson, Morgen Komichi and MDC Director of Elections, Murisi Zwizwai for their party`s poor performance during the July 2018 election.
Chamisa is, however, trying to placate these veteran activists by promising them influential Government positions when he gets into power.
