In a direct jibe at President Robert Mugabe, who has been insisting on early elections since 2010, said his party was ready for polls even if they were to be called next month.
Mugabe is on record saying the two MDC formations are afraid of an early poll because they are afraid of losing. During his party’s conference in Gweru a fortnight ago, it was resolved that Mugabe should dissolve parliament and fix dates for elections if the impasse on the new constitution is not broken by Christmas.
The new constitution is expected to level the playing field and guarantee the holding of free and fair elections by introducing key reforms.
“We want to say to Mugabe we are not afraid of elections. If he wants the polls in January or February we are ready,” Ncube told The Zimbabwean.
He added that his party has resolved to go for the polls even without a new constitution because it was unlikely that there would be a breakthrough on the current draft document any time soon. “Zanu (PF) has said either you agree to our amendments or go back to the old constitution as a way of trying to factor in their impossible demands.
So our position is that if it is not possible to have a democratic constitution, then let’s have elections without a new constitution. We can always fight for one after that exercise,” said Ncube. He reiterated that his party had agreed to give in on some of Zanu (PF)’s demands but could not give in on key matters.
“Zanu said they want separation of phrases like development and empowerment in the constitution and we agreed. But we can’t accept to delete fundamental issues,” said Ncube.
MDC-T and civil society are adamant that elections can only be held after fundamental reforms and a new constitution are in place. The pronouncement by Ncube on holding elections without a new constitution is likely to complicate further the road map to a new democratic dispensation, as it plays into Zanu (PF)’s hands by further alienating his party from MDC-T and other smaller movements.
John Makumbe, speaking in his capacity as a political scientist, described Ncube’s position on having elections without a new constitution and reforms as “dangerous”
“Ncube is shooting himself in the foot. Without the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement, there is no guarantee that what happened in 2008 will not recur. He is just politicking and I would be surprised if his supporters agree with him,” said Makumbe.
“Ncube seems to be saying what he said in order to spite Tsvangirai. He wants to give the impression that he is his own man and cannot define a position different from that of MDC-T,” he added. Ncube was Secretary General under Tsvangirai in the formerly united MDC, but bad blood has developed between the two since their split in 2005 over disagreements relating to whether or not they should back the reintroduction of the Senate that had been abolished in 2007.
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Accepting to go to elections without reforms not only is dangarous but also confirms that Ncube is in deed a village politician as been alluded to before. He is showing desperation and also giving clear signs that he i there to disturb the larger MDC T like what happened in 2008. He does not have people’s interest at heart but his own agenda to see Zimbabweans suffering. My only advice to him is go back and work with Tsvangirai and team or ship yourself out of politics.