Tsvangirai avoids Mutambara confrontation

Tsvangirai avoids Mutambara confrontation

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By Lebo Nkatazo

A FACTION of Zimbabwe's main opposition party led by Morgan Tsvangirai has signaled the thawing of relations with a rival group after avoiding confrontation at a weekend convention.

Tsvangirai's faction, which re-elected him for a second term Sunday, withdrew a resolution expelling five top members of the rival group at the eleventh hour.

The initial draft resolution, seen by New Zimbabwe.com, would also have demanded that 13 other MPs show cause why they have ceased recognising Tsvangirai's leadership.

The resolution would have "expelled" Tsvangirai's former deputy, Gibson Sibanda, secretary general Welshman Ncube, treasurer Fletcher Dulini Ncube, Gift Chimanikire and Trudy Stevenson.

Some of the MPs who were to show cause why they were aligning themselves with the Arthur Mutambara-led faction are Job Sikhala, Blessing Chebundo and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.

Asked why they had backtracked on the issue, the faction’s spokesman, Nelson Chamisa said: “The president (Tsvangirai) will be addressing a press conference this week. He will answer those questions."

The MDC split into two camps last November, and both factions insist that they are the "real MDC". Mutambara's group held their own congress in Bulawayo in February to elect new leaders.

After dropping the confrontational resolutions, the weekend convention adopted nine other resolutions, among them the need to work towards unity among Zimbabwe’s opposition forces.

“Acknowledging the depth of the national crisis, and the need for a united front, Congress resolves that the party will work with like minded civic and political organizations in pursuit of the agenda of change,” the faction resolved.

It added: “Acknowledging the fragmented nature of the broad democratic movement, civic society, the churches and the opposition, congress resolves to work for the unity of all genuine cadres to the struggle."

Mutambara has previously called for unity among opposition forces, but analysts say it could be too late in the afternoon to get the two factions reunited to form a common front against President Robert Mugabe's regime.
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