Opposition politics and loud sounding rhetoric of coalitions

RECENT developments in the country’s fragmented opposition political parties where accusations of poaching from each other’s political ponds have been flying thick and fast clearly points to the impossibility and obscenity of the loud sounding rhetoric of a grand political coalition ostensibly to unseat Zanu-PF.

The democratic choice by known and unknown members of both big and small political parties in their multiplicity to join other political outfits has left other parties grounded.

They have been left without a following, a constituency — a term that defines the astuteness of any politician that gives them the credence and negotiating power among other political leaders. Inviting a politician without a constituency to a grand coalition meeting therefore defies logic. It is like inviting a villager who owns donkeys to a meeting about watering the dip tank — they have no contribution.

It is therefore interesting as much as it is confusingly ironic that while the opposition parties are angling to oust President Mugabe as their common enemy; they are busy weakening each other. They have become enemies unto themselves. The recent mass exodus of members from the Mr Tendai Biti-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is a case in point.

The members that included the top executive of the party moved on to join the Dr Joyce Mujuruled Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) while others retraced their way to the MDC-T where they dutifully belonged before the split of the MDC-T into fragmented atomic structures, some of which can hardly be called parties by any serious person.

And those that were following the Biti party debacle were quick to offer some wise counsel to the lawyer advising him to follow his flock not for the sole purpose of getting them back but with the intention of synthesising and probably sanctifying their move – to stay with them.

This has resulted in some not so friendly twitter exchange between Mr Biti and fellow lawyer who succeeded him as secretary general in the MDC-T Mr Douglas Mwonzora when he tweeted, “Let bygones be bygones. Come and let us work together . . . ,” to which Mr Biti responded, “It is not good to seek strategic re-engagement publicly. Galleries are only important in football matches.”

Interestingly the idea to form a grand coalition’s sole prerogative is to defeat and unseat Zanu-PF. But what opposition political parties are doing is not helping their situation.

They have virtually failed to break the wall that surrounds Zanu-PF and fish from its pond to at least weaken its structures.

They have continued to weaken each other while Zanu-PF structures remain as intact as before. Some of their members are even joining it thereby scuttling the possibility of forming a grand coalition.

Although Mr Biti is the biggest current casualty to political poaching after losing a sizeable number to MDC-T, he still remains the main political player advocating for a coalition as evidenced by his sentiments, “If we can’t curve a minimalist alliance then we are not worth it. Our grandchildren will defile our graves,” he tweeted.

It therefore remains to be seen whether some of the parties that are standing now will remain like that by 2018 with the rate at which some of them are disbanding while some are generally quiet. And that all but confirms the invincibility of Zanu-PF as the only coherent and cohesive party in the country at least according to Prof Jonathan Moyo. It is the only game in town.

He said Zanu-PF was the only coherent and cohesive party in Zimbabwe that was not looking at joining hands with any other party and called on all other party members to rally behind President Mugabe as he was the leader who won elections. He said efforts to malign him were supposed to be exposed and condemned, adding that not rallying behind the President was not only bad but dangerous for the Republic.

“Zanu-PF is the only coherent and cohesive party in Zimbabwe. No political party is as strong as Zanu-PF currently and that explains why we are not seeking to join hands with any other party. It is only when you are weak that you seek to consolidate your weakness by joining hands with others. We take pride in being a grounded party,” he said.

It is laughable therefore that there seem not to be consensus in the opposition as the tussling for top positions remains an issue that causes a splitting headache. Uniting the opposition to rally under who — Mujuru, Tsvangirai, Dumiso Dabengwa, Welshman Ncube, Biti, Elton Mangoma and many other small political party leaders.

And after defeating Zanu-PF or President Mugabe (which is not likely) then what, return to the status quo? These are some of the questions that remains to be answered and that makes the grand coalition a painful project.

The idea although not bad is like that of a hundred rats uniting to push an elephant out of the house. It has become clear that some opposition political leaders do not like to rally behind certain leaders for reasons that they know while others have no problem with it.

The issue of positions caused by greedy and political grandstanding in the grand coalition remains the biggest threat to its formation.

Prior to the mass exodus of members Mr Biti looked very optimistic and excited to join hands with Dr Mujuru where his members would be seen attending ZPF rallies. But now it remains to be seen whether he will put up new structures or join ZPF or any of the MDCs spelling the demise of his PDP which is very unlikely given that it is an effort that requires a lot of pride swallowing.

PDP spokesman Mr Jacob Mafume said the party was working on replacing those that left. He said what was refreshing was that those that left did not join Zanu-PF and hinted on the possibility of a coalition despite the vulgarly weakened party structures.

He played down the defections as a non-event and a democratic choice by the members suggesting that the move was not bad for as long as it did not seek to bolster Zanu-PF. It therefore defies the logic of having more parties if the common enemy is Zanu-PF.

“The two, who have left now, are useful, but they have not gone to Zanu-PF. What would be alarming would be if they went to Zanu-PF and what would be worth noting are those that come from Zanu-PF. As for these comrades, we will continue working with them whatever they call themselves now. We have younger and newer comrades, stepping up to their place,” said Mr Mafume.

The coalition, should it succeed would be that of old, tired and failed politicians trying to renew and make themselves relevant when the time is past and is likely going to add a lot of fun, drama and news on the local political scene.