THERE are reports that the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC party’s top brass will soon meet to review a congress resolution that bars it from contesting elections until electoral reforms are implemented.
The MDC-T national council — its highest decision-making organ in between congresses — is the only organ that can alter, amend and or set aside resolutions of the congress.
While we do not bid for Tsvangirai’s political outfit, we believe their failure to participate in any forthcoming election could give Zanu PF an unfair advantage to consolidate its stranglehold on power at a time the ruling party has failed to lift Zimbabwe from its political and economic quagmire.
It appears that Zimbabwe’s economy is hurtling towards an abyss, and President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF have no idea how to stem the tide.
So if MDC-T fails to participate in the election, this will weaken opposition politics giving Zanu PF time to recover lost ground ahead of the 2018 elections. That will make it extremely difficult for the opposition to present a challenge to Zanu PF in the coming polls.
Therefore, it is important for opposition parties to participate in by-elections as demanded in a democracy. Zimbabwe nor any other country cannot afford a one-party system hence it is important for all political players to challenges Zanu PF for the good of democracy and the electorate.
It is unfortunate that the MDC-T leadership appears not to have clarity in its policies. They need not be reminded that their 2005 split was triggered by lack of foresight after failing to agree on their participation in the Senate elections.
It’s true that Zanu PF will not agree to MDC-T demands yet they continue making the unnecessary demands. They must show that they can fight the injustices and win. But by failing to retain the 21 seats, it means that Zanu PF will not have to be accountable to the electorate.
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It is high time the MDC-T rescinded its decision and participate in the elections, and two things will happen: Either they will win or lose them to Zanu PF or any other party.
The MDC-Renewal Team should also fight, and chances are that some of the MPs will regain their lost seats. Whatever happens, the winner will be the constituency. Zimbabweans do not want blind leadership, but one that can deliver on their election promises.
Therefore, we urged all political parties to take a stand to fight it out with Zanu PF. They should not deliver the 21 parliamentary seats to Zanu PF on a silver plate. That is unacceptable. Zimbabweans need change in their leadership. Opposition politicians should be aware of the consequences of giving away victory to a political party such as Zanu PF.
Therefore it is important for Tsvangirai’s party at least as the main opposition outfit to take a bold stand on whether to participate or not in the by-elections to fill the vacant seats in Parliament.
It is not a coincidence that the expulsion of the 21 so-called MDC-T rebel MPs has excited Zanu PF. This should be cause for concern for all democratic forces in the country as the party seeks to win all the by-elections and increase its numerical advantage in the National Assembly. We believe also that it is no longer time for the MDC Renewal Team to cry over spilt milk. In fact, they should fight and show that there is life after MDC-T. Opposition parties must not unnecessarily fight against each other, while the common enemy dines. It is time they prepared for the bare-knuckle fight at the ballot box any time soon. It is a fact that opposition parties have one common goal — to remove a dictatorial government that has failed Zimbabweans.
