1] Im seriously wondering what could be the KEY lessons learnt from the coalition agreement reached between MT & other fringe parties.
So far it has been political headaches
more so because Morgan himself is nolonger around, leaving his former lieutenants in perpetual fights
2] A bit of context
The MDC itself, from its inception, was never meant to be a conventional political party, in the modern sense
Rather, a coalition MOVEMENT, bringing different constituencies
These were labour, farmers, lawyers, religion, warverts, women, youth etc
3] However, with time, some coalition partners started experiencing internal fractures
Some simply become disillusioned
Some sought new allegiance elsewhere
ZanuPF itself began infiltrating the movement
Eventually, the core leadership of this movement itself began splitting
4] Fast foward to 2014, the last MDC Congress presided over by Pres MT
The political conversations reached a conclusion that the MDC had gone off the rails
the endless splits & bickering were self serving.
The resolution & instruction to Dr MT was clear:
BUILD A BIG TENT
5] The ALLIANCE coalition, was simply a resolution to reunite the MDC factions, & other partners as of 1999
For Morgan personally, already troubled by both internal & external calls to pass the torch, the MDC-A was to be his legacy, his last chess move.
And this he achieved
6] As the BIG TENT began finding occupants, a key question arose,,
Who was to occupy the tent front seat?
The question answered itself.
It was MT.
MT the person, not the MDC-T
As per the 1999 settings, Ncube naturally became second in charge, followed by Biti & so forth
7] The coalition was based on political characters & paid little attention to individual parties
MDC-T had split, with TK running her own affairs
MDC-Green had respectfully become defunct
PDP has split into Biti & Matibenga factions
ZimPF, was a faction of the Mujuru party
8] As the MDC-A coalition partners soldiered on, months towards the elections, the giant himself, MT, passed on
From there, the coalition, even with its agreement in place, began taking a new direction
The main man it was build around, was no more
9] Fast forward to 2019/20, different interpretations of this agreement have become the order of the day
All of this is public knowledge
Let's look at how each of the 7 individual parties which made up the MDC-A coalition agreement have reacted to these political development
10] #MDC_T
As per the previous packing order, the main MDC-T faction,led by Chamisa, maintains that the ALLIANCE agreement died, forcing the parties involved to form a party
They maintain that whereas they formed it towards the elections, it eventually formalized post the polls
11] MDC-Green
Prof Ncube maintains that the MDC-ALLIANCE is a full fledged political party, even as per the Agreement document.
For him, & other parties didn't join the MDC-T, but together with it, formed a new party which was likely to have a new name altogether.
12] #PDP
There are/were two PDPs
the former MDC-Renewal party long split, with the Biti faction joining the Tsvangirai led MDC-ALLIANCE coalition in 2017
The faction's understanding is that they formed a new party which has had its distinct identity ever since 2018 polls
13] #TransformZim
The TZ party led by MDC founding leader, Jacob Ngarivhume has relatively stayed clear of MDC-T fights post the polls
Attached below is the parties official position towards the Gweru MDC Congress, divorcing its marriage to the MDC-ALLIANCE, in May 2019
14] #MDC_T
The court resurrected #MDC_T's position affects the positions of the other partners
The new old MDC-T maintains that the MDC-A was a coalition of distinct parties & consequently claims its electoral property,on the basis that through both MT & NC,it owned the MDC-A
15] #ZimPF
The position of the new old MDC-T has open a political can of political worms
The very much forgotten #ZimPF led by Mutambara has now used the MDC-T position to demand a share of the PPFA money arguing that 1 party cant individual receive money given to a "coalition"
16] #MCD
The sixth party is the Guchutu led church aligned MCD party
Again, using the MDC-T position, the party, MCD is questioning why it hasn't been engaged over both the recalling & subsequent replacement of PR legislators which he they say,cannot belong to MDC-T party alone
17] Well, noone knows the position of the 7th alliance partner, #ZanuNdonga.
We leave it like that.
The key thing is, the MDC-T wants it bothways
One remembers Mwonzora lying that he had met ALLIANCE partners, especially Ngaribvume.
The MDC-T wants to have its cake & eat it
18] So as it stands, the ALLIANCE agreement is dead,however one looks at it
• MDC-Ncube is part of MDC-A
• PDP is part of MDC-A
• TZ doesn't want to work with MDC-T
• MCD is threatening to go to ZEC against MDC-T shenanigans
• ZimPF is suing MDC-T
•Zanu Ndonga is dead
19] Yet in light of this, the festive of political absurdities continues
My question remains, what are the lessons to be learnt?
In hindsight, what could have been done differently?
In light of the realities & political scheming underway, what's to be done now?
enkosii!!
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