30 July 2007

By Never Kadungure

Unity talks between the two MDC formations have apparently fallen flat on their backs owing in part to the growing view Mutambara's faction has nothing to offer the bigger and widely supported Tsvangirai group. A stinging attack by Arthur Mutambara on Tsvangirai soon after his factions National Council meeting betrayed the frustration creeping into its ranks over the events that have unfolded so far.

The Mutambara group feel they have been overshadowed by Tsvangirai's party in almost every platform, but more importantly the Save Zimbabwe Campaign. In remarks contained in a statement Mutambara said, 'The National Council further noted that Save Zimbabwe Campaign has largely remained an organisation that furthers the interests of a few individuals and has abandoned its founding values and principles. It has become a vehicle to solely advance the perverted agenda of Morgan Tsvangirai.'

Political commentators have already predicted the two parties will contest the joint 2008 Presidential and Parliamentary elections separately. The problem for Mutambara they say is that he has at least ten MP's who are certain to lose their seats should they face candidates from Tsvangirai's group in the poll. Soon after the split Mutambara's group had a 21 vs 19 lead in terms of the number of MP's but a series of high profile defections reversed the equation to mean Tsvangirai's party has more MP's.

MP's like Job Sikhala (St Mary's), Goodrich Chimbaira (Zengeza), Trudy Stevenson (Harare North), Edwin Mushoriwa (Dzivarasekwa), Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga (Glen Norah), Timothy Mukahlera (Gweru Urban) are likely to struggle to retain their seats outside the domain of Tsvangirai's support. The Tsvangirai group is clearly aware the coming elections hold two opportunites, either the removal of Mugabe or the destruction of the other MDC faction, or both. Removing Mugabe is the more unrealistic option because of his ability to rig them and so putting Mutambara's group to the sword will be accepted as a consolation prize.

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