Mangoma resists coalition

By Farayi Machamire

HARARE – Elton Mangoma’s newly-formed opposition Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe (RDZ) has hardened its opposition to a political deal with other opposition parties.

An opposition coalition is seen as critical to the outcome of the closest election for a generation expected in 2018.

Analysts say none of the myriad opposition political parties would be able to form a government without the support of other opposition parties.

But the RDZ ruled out a coalition at a news briefing on Tuesday.

RDZ spokesperson Pishai Muchauraya said they are not going to do a deal, particularly with Joice Mujuru’s People First.

“When it comes to coalitions, we will not look at personalities, however, as a party we will not unite, have coalitions with people whom we don’t share the same values,” Muchauraya told the news conference ahead of the party’s first congress in Harare on Friday.

His comments marked a hardening of the RDZ position, which has progressively toughened in recent months.

Led by Mangoma, who formally split with his erstwhile comrade and PDP president Tendai Biti in June this year, the party will hold its inaugural congress in Harare on Friday running into Saturday.

“The congress will act as a sign post of doing new things in the country which is recording high and alarming rates of unemployment, low standards in service delivery, the economy being in a comatose state and the country slowly going towards a pariah state,” Muchauraya said.

Mangoma spearheaded the formation of RDZ following the announcement by the MDC Renewal Team that he had been suspended pending disciplinary action on charges of violence and divisive behavior.

Before that, he was serving as treasurer-general in the Renewal Team that was formed after another split with Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC. Daily News