MDC president Welshman Ncube on Thursday snubbed Independence Day celebrations in Harare, opting to mark the day from Bulawayo, in protest over the way he is allegedly being sidelined by President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on critical electoral issues in the inclusive government.
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The rest of the principals, including Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, attended the Harare festivities, held at the National Sports Stadium. In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, MDC spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said Ncube could not pretend that all was well by sitting next to Mugabe and Tsvangirai in public.
“There is nothing special in Morgan Tsvangirai and (Robert) Mugabe. He (Ncube) didn’t see it fit to sit on the same table with people who don’t respect us as a partner in government. They don’t recognise us and want to create the impression that we are a part of this government,” Chihwayi said.
He added that Ncube took the decision to celebrate in Bulawayo, but sent members of his party’s national executive to represent the MDC at the celebrations.
“He attended Independence Day festivities at White City Stadium in Bulawayo. Harare is not Zimbabwe; the future of Zimbabwe is not in the hands of Tsvangirai and Mugabe. He chose to celebrate independence away from Mugabe and Tsvangirai who do not respect him and the MDC family.”
Last week, Ncube who claims to have been left out of crucial principals’ meetings, said he would not recognise any decisions made by the two without consulting him.
Mugabe and Tsvangirai recently sidelined Ncube by agreeing on creating an elections roadmap and appointed Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa (Zanu PF) and Constitutional Affairs minister Eric Matinenga (MDC-T) to craft it.
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Ncube, who has Sadc’s backing to be recognised as principal, also accused the two leaders of rewriting the Global Political Agreement which recognises three political parties.
“We have drawn this to the attention of the facilitation team and we have pointed out to them that unless Sadc intervenes as a matter of urgency, we will not recognise any of the processes emanating from a process where we, as a party, are excluded from,” Ncube said last week.
