Gwisai says MDC will be crushed in polls

Gwisai says MDC will be crushed in polls

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By Clemence Manyukwe
17/03/04
THE radical former Highfield MP Munyaradzi Gwisai has warned that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change is “headed for slaughter” unless it boycotts next’s year’s parliamentary elections.

Gwisai who was expelled from the party for his radical socialist views and open criticism of the party leadership warns that “elitist forces” have ganged up with “the rich” and “intellectuals” to fuel the bickering within the opposition ranks.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper, Gwisai tore into MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai saying he had much to answer for what is happening within the party which is battling endless internal feuds.

Gwisai told the paper that the MDC will be “slaughtered by Zanu PF” because most ordinary people are now disillusioned by the MDC leadership and also because free and fair polls are not possible under the present constitution.

“The infighting in the MDC is being caused by the elitist forces- the rich and intellectuals- who have never been committed to the economic war or the struggle against Zanu PF dictatorship.

“The party’s leadership had a golden opportunity in 2000 and in 2002 to come to power through the ballot or through the streets, but they fiddled. Now they are headed for a slaughter house in 2005.”

Gwisai said although there are reports of some party officials going out of step with the party president, they would not achieve much as “they have no real alternative”, the paper reported.

Gwisai addressed the feuds caused by the nomination of parliamentary candidates by the MDC leadership saying “some of these people now want to pretend to be democrats against the imposition of candidates, forgetting that in 2000 there were no primary elections and in 1999 the interim executive was hand- picked by the same Tsvangirai.”

The university law lecturer’s sentiments come in the wake of widening differences in the party which have stirred up agitation which observers fear may lead to splits in the party.

MDC secretary general Welshman Ncube who was rumoured to have threatened to quit has hit out at the doomsayers saying the party was strong and would be going as a unit into the next election, should it choose to participate.

Fears of a major split were fuelled by comments by the MDC leader during a campaign rally at the weekend in Zengeza (James Makore is the MDC candidate for the Zengeza seat in the March 27 and 28 by-election) where he threatened to sack from the party people he termed “sellouts” who were supping with Zanu PF.

Gwisai seemed to concur with the opposition party president on some issues such as the need to weed out some elements from the party and boycotting next year’s parliamentary poll, the Mirror report said.

He was for the expulsion acting Harare mayor Sekesai Makwavarara “whom Tsvangirai allowed to gate-crush in 2000.” Makwavarara was said suspended this week for insubordination and is due before the party’s disciplinary committee.

Gwisai, who is the president of the International Socialist Organisation in Zimbabwe said: “We now have a de facto Zanu PF council that has declared war on the people judging by their budget. Makwavarara now has the power so she no longer cares. She must be booted out of the party and there must be put people who are ready to dare (Ignatius) Chombo.”
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