The Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai, recently launched Operation Dzoka Kumusha (Operation Come Back Home), to lure back deserted members ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections.
While MDC-T insiders, some analysts and party sympathisers described the exercise as a means to election victory, some political commentators said, readmitting spent former members would not add value to the cause.
Former Member of Parliament for St Marys’ and MDC99 leader, Job Sikhala, among other ‘rebels’ have since found their way back to MDC-T.
Respected political analyst, Rejoice Ngwenya, said MDC-T was doing itself no good by bringing back to the tent spent forces like Job Sikhala and Edward Mukosi among others.
Ngwenya said the former party members had no constituencies and would not add value to the MDC-T strategy.
“The Come Back Home exercise is of no significance but an empty public relations gimmick,” Ngwenya said.
Political analyst Gregg Lennington had a different view.
Lennington said the regrouping exercise would add numbers and help build a united MDC ahead of the next elections.
“People are tired of the endless Zanu (PF) rule and would vote for change in 2018 despite their disappointments with some aspects of the MDC,” said Lennington.
Suspended MDC-T Marondera Provincial Member and former Marondera Mayor, Farai Nyandoro, said Tsvangirai and his party did not lose elections because Sikhala and others were out of the camp.
Nyandoro partly attributed the MDC-T defeat to imposition of election candidates, chaotic primaries, unfunded election campaign and the biggest ever number of independent candidates in the history of Zimbabwe politics.
The electoral humiliation was also apportioned to intra-party ‘illegal’ suspensions on the eve of primaries, lack of voter registration awareness, factionalism, nepotism and the party’s elite campaign messages.
Strategy
“Above all MDC-T would need a winning strategy which I hope Sikhala brought with him,” Nyandoro told The Zimbabwean in a telephone interview.
Insiders and the electorate which chose to be anonymous said MDC-T should fight greediness for power and sincerely regroup for victory.
MDC-T National Organiser, Nelson Chamisa, said his party would be ‘as invincible as ever come 2018’.
Chamisa said the party was renewing its structures and systems while sharpening its policies in preparation for next elections.
MDC-T learnt lessons from past elections and was taught tricks by Nikuv, said Chamisa.
He said MDC-T continued to be the strongest party in the country ‘as Zanu (PF) would admit’ and what was needed was levelling the political field.
“The issue here is the political environment and electoral processes nocturnally handled by Zanu (PF),” said Chamisa, calling for the levelling of the playing field for credible election outcome.
MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, said they were excited about Operation Dzoka Kumusha which he described as fruitful.
Mwonzora said the Operation had opened doors to former members who had left the party for different reasons including to stand as independent candidates.
“As a party we are consolidating intra-party cohesion, unity and are in dialogue with members of a divergence of views,” said Mwonzora.
Mwonzora said Tsvangirai did not want anyone to leave the tent.
There were revelations by Mwonzora that the party had intelligence about how Zanu (PF) was planning to rig the 2018 polls and MDC-T was devising counter strategies.
According to Mwonzora, MDC-T has new election fighting methods and will not be found wanting at the polls.
Tsvangirai is on a cross country campaign to bring back ‘rebels’ and prodigal sons to the party ranks and rebuild the MDC of 1999.
At a rally held last weekend at Bulawayo’s Stanley Square, Tsvangirai told party supporters that: “The return of founding members is part of a revived battle to unseat Robert Mugabe and Zanu (PF).”
Post published in: News