WASHINGTON DC —
Some political analysts say the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation of former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will never remove President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party from power unless warring factions unite before the next elections.
Political analysts told VOA Studio 7 that the Tsvangirai formation will disintegrate if the factions do not unite.
One of them is Professor Shadreck Guto of the University of South Africa, who said the MDC-T is being destroyed by forces within the party and those outside the party linked to Zanu PF.
“What is happening here there are two forces. The forces from within and forces from without and from without it’s definitely a strategy of Zanu PF to try and create divisions within the opposition,” said Professor Guto.
He further noted that the MDC-T will never defeat President Mugabe’s party unless factionalism is tackled in the party.
“We have to wait and see whether they will unite and be able to contest elections with Zanu PF and win. They came very close to winning in the election that was stolen (2008) but that was it. I also think that the MDC needs a leader that can do that. I don’t think that Tsvangirai can do that or any one of the leaders of the other faction,” said Professor Guto.
There are reports that some factions linked to secretary general Tendai Biti want to suspend Tsvangirai, a move that will worsen friction in the MDC-T.
Another political analyst, Thabani Nyoni of Bulawayo Agenda, said the future looks bleak for the MDC-T formation.
“The solution is unlikely to be in sight especially when internal party processes are being taken outside the normal processes of conflict resolution where we see people lambasting each other in the media and public,” said Nyoni.
The MDC-T, which was formed in 1999 by a coalition of groups including the National Constitutional Assembly, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and Zimbabwe National Students Union, has been disintegrating over the years following sharp ideological differences between its top party officials.
Efforts to eject deputy party treasurer, Elton Mangoma who recently urged Tsvangirai to step down after failing a couple of times to remove Zanu PF from power, have further divided the MDC-T with one faction allegedly led by Tsvangirai and another by Biti.
Political analysts told VOA Studio 7 that the Tsvangirai formation will disintegrate if the factions do not unite.
One of them is Professor Shadreck Guto of the University of South Africa, who said the MDC-T is being destroyed by forces within the party and those outside the party linked to Zanu PF.
“What is happening here there are two forces. The forces from within and forces from without and from without it’s definitely a strategy of Zanu PF to try and create divisions within the opposition,” said Professor Guto.
He further noted that the MDC-T will never defeat President Mugabe’s party unless factionalism is tackled in the party.
“We have to wait and see whether they will unite and be able to contest elections with Zanu PF and win. They came very close to winning in the election that was stolen (2008) but that was it. I also think that the MDC needs a leader that can do that. I don’t think that Tsvangirai can do that or any one of the leaders of the other faction,” said Professor Guto.
There are reports that some factions linked to secretary general Tendai Biti want to suspend Tsvangirai, a move that will worsen friction in the MDC-T.
Another political analyst, Thabani Nyoni of Bulawayo Agenda, said the future looks bleak for the MDC-T formation.
“The solution is unlikely to be in sight especially when internal party processes are being taken outside the normal processes of conflict resolution where we see people lambasting each other in the media and public,” said Nyoni.
The MDC-T, which was formed in 1999 by a coalition of groups including the National Constitutional Assembly, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and Zimbabwe National Students Union, has been disintegrating over the years following sharp ideological differences between its top party officials.
Efforts to eject deputy party treasurer, Elton Mangoma who recently urged Tsvangirai to step down after failing a couple of times to remove Zanu PF from power, have further divided the MDC-T with one faction allegedly led by Tsvangirai and another by Biti.