The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Monday, February 15, 1993 — The Forum for Democratic Reform Trust and Open Forum say they will soon merge into a single political party in preparation for the 1995 general elections.

A spokesman for both organisations said in Bulawayo yesterday that the decision to merge was reached during a recent consultative meeting in the city.

“The Forum for Democratic Reform Trust and Open Forum will work closely together to launch a party which is strong enough to form an alternative government,” he said.

Both organisations started off as platforms for debate and discussion of the economic and political situation in the country. The spokesman said the two would, from now, harmonise and align their respective policies.

The organisations’ representatives at the consultative meeting, Dr Themba Dlodlo of Open Forum and lawyer Mr David Coltart (Democratic Reform Trust) have already put their signatures to a document declaring their intention to merge.

“Our concern is to preserve unity of purpose in building a strong nation, served by a plurality of political parties to practice true democracy in Zimbabwe,” the spokesman said.

He said a date and venue would be announced when the two would be announced when the two would formally merge, choose the new leadership and name of the party. He added that although unity was uppermost between the two bodies, there was no intention to invite the United Front political parties.

“They are just there as a historical fact but they are no longer relevant to the present political circumstances,” he said.

He said the decision to merge came from the recent Kenyan general elections during which a fragmented opposition movement was soundly trounced by the ruling KANU