Biti must have subconsciously revealed his real intention, and the parliamentarians who have followed him and been promised they would be defended from expulsion by the mainstream MDC must be having second thoughts. Biti all but confirmed beyond reasonable doubt that he was indeed playing tricks with Parliament when he wrote to Parliament seeking protection for those who are being recalled together with him for crossing the floor from the MDC-T to their yet unnamed party.
I am not a legal expert, but I would imagine that his contradictory statement may put him in contempt of Parliament. He is wasting the taxpayers’ money through the time that the Speaker and whoever else is involved in making the decision will take going through the evidence.
Or has he simply realised that, as he has been told by many, that his coup attempt is futile? I think he has soiled his personal image, his professional status as a lawyer, and his political life. Those who initially believed him should realise before it is too late that they have been taken for a ride and retrace their steps to the big tent that is preparing on onslaught on the failed Zanu (PF) government.
Not a saint
Tsvangirai is not a saint. He has his own weaknesses, but he remains a democrat to a large extent.
How did Mangoma and Biti expect him to just step down without checking with the people who elected him into office? That would have been a betrayal of the people’s trust and faith in him. Mangoma and Biti were not the majority in the MDC-T, so Tsvangirai had to seek public opinion within the party before agreeing to step down.
They should rather have used the period between Congress and now to galvanise the party in terms of mobilising the grassroots, gain public confidence and increase their chances of being voted for whatever posts they aspired for.
I wish them good luck in their new political lives, and hope that the rumour doing the rounds that they will be forming a new government with Zanu (PF) next year is false, but that they will fight Zanu (PF) with all their might. – Disappointed, Manicaland
Post published in: Letters to the Editor