CHENGETAI ZVAUYA
A renewed effort by senior founding members of the country’s opposition party to bring Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe to the negotiating table has flopped amid mistrust among the actors, it has been established.
Khupe was recently given the reins by the Supreme Court over MDC-T, albeit in an acting capacity, pending the holding of an extraordinary
congress. Chamisa’s MDC Alliance contends that they are a separate formation since it held its congress last year and not bound by the MDC-T
rules.
Business Times reported last month that the Elders councils of MDC-T and MDC- Alliance were looking for a credible and respected mediator who
would bring Chamisa and Khupe to the table to break the impasse in Zimbabwe’s largest opposition political party.
Pearson Mungofa secretary of MDC Alliance Elders Council said his party had no desire for the talks between Khupe and Chamisa as they felt MDC
Alliance has the support of the people.
“As party elders, we met and decided that we are not going to be talking to the MDC-T elders on reunification. We have the political support of
the people in the country and the MDC-T have the legal support but it is not enough to carry them on and win the support of the people in the country,” Mungofa said, accusing their counterparts of allegedly exchanging notes
with Zanu PF leadership.
“We cannot have talks with them as we know that there are not sincere with their intentions.”
Cephas Makuyana MDC -T Elders Council leader said his party wanted to have a dialogue with the MDC Alliance Elders Council but was not finding any joy. “We are trying to push for the talks of unity in the party but our
other colleagues in the MDC Alliance are not keen to be talking to us and it is not true that we are being sent by Zanu PF to push for talks of our
principals,” Makuyana said.
Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu said his party was not involved in the fights within MDC, adding “they have to put their house in order and stop involving us as we are not in court with them and we
know they are fighting among themselves”.
“I don’t see the reason why we can share notes with either MDC faction,” Mpofu said.
