ON Thursday, Speaker of the House of Assembly Jacob Mudenda refused to be dragged into the MDC-T intra-party politics saying the august House does not resolve party issues.
NewsDay Editorial
More importantly, Mudenda advised the warring MDC-T factions — one led by embattled party leader Morgan Tsvangirai and another by axed party secretary-general Tendai Biti — fighting over the recalling of MPs, to approach the courts for arbitration.
Neither Mudenda nor Senate President Edna Madzongwe has the authority to make a ruling over the matter.
Conveniently, the two camps claimed victory over each other. Biti camp spokesperson Jacob Mafume claimed Parliament’s decision vindicated their position that Tsvangirai and “his lot” had no right to recall the MPs.
But MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the ruling showed that Mudenda had refused to endorse Biti’s interpretation of the law.
While this bitter exchange of words continues, a lasting rift within Zimbabwe’s battle-scarred MDC-T is inevitable.
Tsvangirai’s clash with Biti was a long time in the making, but the timing could hardly be worse. With this, the country will be vanquished by the purposeless fights and the net effect of it is that Mugabe’s opponents will be weakened just as the sun has begun to set on his 34-year rule.
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Zimbabweans had begun to enjoy fruits of the unity government between Tsvangirai and Mugabe as it helped pull the crumbling economy out of free fall, prevented bloodshed,and ushered in a new Constitution that limited Executive power.
And, Mugabe — a complete strategist — will no doubt reap the rewards from the MDC-T fights as he did with the unity government where he enjoyed the fruits of a healthier economy while making Tsvangirai look marginal and even slightly comic.
But it is the people who will remain the biggest losers as no one will keep Mugabe in check.
Does Zimbabwe need self-serving leaders? Otherwise what is the difference with Zanu PF? Not that the MDC-T is the politically correct, but that in the absence of a political party — a true servant in its nature — where else can the people turn to?
Biti and Tsvangirai should be ashamed of all this fiasco. They should realise that it is about the people and their interests.
The MDC-T fights do not serve any national interests. The country cannot play hostage to this kind of opposition politics. Besides, opposition politicians should keep in check ruling parties on behalf of the electorate so that service delivery is improved.
With these mindless fights, Zanu PF will slide back to its comfort zone and it is the people that will suffer most. Zimbabweans are peace-loving people and do not wish the country to slide back into chaos now or forever. So, with the opposition disintegrating (not that we regret anything), the people should be prepared to confront the beast head-on.
Talk of broad coalition without the masses will still be doomed.
Tsvangirai or Biti should not fool themselves that they are our saviours — whoever is backed by the people should keep working for the people. The people are their own saviours. The MDC-T fights are an unforgivable act of political fratricide.
