Tsvangirai promised his followers at the anniversary celebrations in Masvingo last month that he would come back to consult them after the conclusion of talks with Zanu (PF) following a groundswell of opposition to the party’s support for the 18th amendment. Â
The party has been rocked with internal strife over the dissolving of the Women’s Assembly leadership and finds itself at another crossroads – just two years after it split in October 2005.
Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa confirmed the holding of the national conference in December, but declined to reveal further details saying the planning was still being done.
An MDC source said: “It is likely to be an explosive conference. The leadership will have a lot of work to do ahead of the elections, especially against the background of tension currently gripping the party over talks and the Women’s Assembly issue.”
The MDC finds itself in a cul-de-sac having supported the Zanu (PF) project on the 18th amendment but now faced with the enormous task of extracting meaningful concessions from the ruling party, well known for its arrogance, stubbornness and tendency to indicate right but turn left.
A lot of hope and optimism that the country’s political logjam could finally be unlocked has often been expressed in wishful reports claiming progress. But outside the locked negotiating rooms, there are fears that the MDC could be silently surrendering itself for annihilation by the Mugabe regime.
The MDC national conference is also expected to unveil the party’s candidates for next year’s elections. But a senior official said it was also possible congress might announce the party’s boycotting of next year’s elections if the talks have flopped.
Likely to be held after the Zanu (PF) special congress, where Robert Mugabe will face the sternest test in his political life, the MDC national conference will certainly represent a crossroads for the opposition party. – Itai Dzamara
Post published in: News