By Tendai Kwari
News currently doing the rounds is stating that Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD) president Dr. Makoni has called for the formation of a coalition “with like-minded political parties and individuals”, saying this was the only way forward for Zimbabwe after the government of national unity which he described as a failure.
However, to my chagrin, the report goes on to report that Dr. Makoni said “We are not excluding anyone. We would want (President) Robert Mugabe to be in the coalition that is if he is willing to be in it.”
This report is disturbing. How can President Robert Mugabe be “like minded” with opposition and other democratic forces? I fail to understand the set up or nature of a coalition MKD will forge with ZANU-PF. Why should ZANU-PF, especially President Mugabe, want a coalition with MKD? Who wants who?
If the above reporting is correct, then we can only deduce that Dr. Makoni is begging for President Mugabe to bring him back into the ZANU-PF stable. I have had the opportunity to work and share ideas with Dr. Makoni and I cannot believe he is seeking a coalition with ZANU-PF.
All along, I used to believe we were seeking and fighting for a total change in Zimbabwe politics, and that the change must be a change of government, not personalities.
A coalition of ZANU-PF and MKD will not bring in any change, after all, many political analyst have always pointed out that Dr. Makoni is a ZANU-PF project, allegations also raised by his own former Secretary for Communications Mr. Silver Bhebe.
A coalition that can bring in real change in Zimbabwe should include MDC-T. Any other coalition will serve little purpose and can only spoil any chance MDC-T has. Another chaotic, blood sucking and moribund Government of National Unity would ensue.
Any other coalition, excluding MDC-T will also strengthen ZANU-PF’s position. I mention MDC-T here, not because I do agree with their policies, but it is the only party at the moment that stands a good chance of winning against ZANU-PF.
We, as democratic forces, can play a positive role by supporting a party with a good chance and minimise any damage to that party. Any other coalition, without MDC-T will simply split votes and would be in favour of ZANU-PF. Dr. Makoni should know this from the 2008 election results.
A grand coalition should include MDC-T, MDC-N, ZAPU and MKD and et.al; this would be a grand coalition that can bring change. Any coalition with ZANU-PF will maintain the status-quo in Zimbabwe and reinforces the ZANU-PF stranglehold.
ZANU-PF is a juggernaut machine on its own, which has to be dismantled in its entirety and for Dr.Makoni to seek an alliance with ZANU-PF, beggars belief and is an insult to all of us who are working tirelessly to bring real change to Zimbabwe politics.
